Another One: U.S. Rep. Colin Allred ‘Flip-Flops’ To GOP Over Biden’s Border Policies

Does he think this will make voters trust him...more?

Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), who is eyeing to unseat Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), is joining his GOP colleagues over President Biden’s border policies, The Texas Tribune reported.

Allred is one of three lawmakers who voted on Jan. 17 to condemn Biden’s response to the southern border. The vote, introduced by Rep. Nathaniel Moran, “denounces the Biden administration’s open-borders policies” and “condemns the national security and public safety crisis.” All Republicans voted for the resolution, creating another opportunity for members who promote the migrant crisis during the 2024 election year.

The former NFL linebacker launched his 2024 senatorial campaign via Twitter, reminding voters of the horrific Jan. 6 attacks where his opponent Ted Cruz called them “peaceful protesters.” Siding with the same colleagues he once criticized has opened the door for criticism from his blue aisle colleagues. Allred’s Democratic opponent, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, called Allred out in a statement saying he “sided with GOP extremists.” “The Democratic nominee that goes up against Ted Cruz should fight tooth and nail against Trump’s dangerous so-called policies,” Gutierrez said.

“If our nominee agrees with Trump and Ted Cruz’s idea of border security, then we’re in a hell of a lot of trouble.”

Political strategists are keeping an eye on moves like this from Democrats. Matthew Watkins, managing editor for news and politics at The Tribune, said voters should be careful as this may be a significant strategy in the polls.

“We’re seeing record numbers of migrants showing up at the border right now,” Watkins said, according to Texas Standard. “And so Allred, I think, and some other Democrats are seeing that you know, pretending that this isn’t an issue at all, trying to look the other way, might not be the best political strategy in 2024.”

The freshman congressman’s vote was different from his sentiments in October 2023. After the Biden Administration decided to expand on the new U.S.-Mexico border wall construction, Allred praised the decision, calling it necessary. “This is a necessary step to help Texas’ overwhelmed border communities deal with this current surge of migrants,” Allred said in a statement.

The move raised eyebrows for GOP lawmakers, including Ted Cruz. A spokesperson for the outspoken senator called it a “cowardly flip-flopping strategy” since Allred “consistently voted with his party for reckless border policies that benefit the undocumented while weakening our country and its borders.”