Cruz, 53, fought back, seeking in the final weeks of the campaign to paint Allred as wanting to allow boys to play in girls sports. He also tied Allred, 43, to Vice President Kamala Harris, who was expected to lose the presidential vote in the state, calling the two Democrats “dos liberales,” or, “two liberals” in Spanish-language advertising.

It didn’t matter. Cruz cruised to victory on a red wave led by the indomitable Donald Trump, who stormed to another term as president. Here’s why Allred lost. Trump blazed to victory in Texas, beating Harris by 14 percentage points. In 2020, he defeated President Joe Biden by 5.6 points in the state.