Democratic candidate in important Senate race accused of trying to gain support from Black voters by endorsing reparations

Democrat Senatorial candidate Colin Allred is facing accusations of pandering to Black voters with taxpayer-funded reparations as he campaigns for what may be one of this year’s most hotly contested Senate races. The conservative Win it Back PAC has launched a new ad targeting Allred, calling out his alleged ties to the reparations movement in Black communities.

The ad, part of a significant seven-figure media buy, will start airing in the El Paso media market to coincide with the Texas Democratic Convention happening in the city. It aims to reach Hispanic voters, a demographic that research shows is mostly against reparations. The ad will run in both English and Spanish to maximize its impact.

“My grandparents came to this country in the sixties to pursue the American Dream. They were farmworkers. My grandmother would always say, ‘con tanto sacrificio,’” shares Sonia, a Hispanic woman featured in the ad, referring to the phrase “with much sacrifice.”

Sonia expresses her opposition to the idea of using tax dollars for reparations, stating, “Like, nobody gave me this, and nobody is going to take it away. Colin Allred would take our tax dollars to pay for reparations. I’m not okay with it — to take away from one group to pander to another group. I grew up poor, and I’ve worked really hard, and I don’t feel like it’s fair for me to have to pay for that. It’s all pandering. Collin Allred is not fighting for us.”

A Pew Research Center study from 2022 reveals that a majority of Hispanic voters, accounting for 58%, do not support providing cash or land as reparations to the descendants of slaves in America.

Allred’s campaign spokesperson, Josh Stewart, dismissed the ad as “blatantly false,” accusing Senator Ted Cruz of spreading misinformation. However, Stewart did not elaborate on Allred’s stance on reparations.

Allred’s involvement in groups with pro-reparations positions, such as serving as Vice Chair on the Board of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and being a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, has raised questions about his stance on the issue.

Despite limited polling data on the race, early indications suggest that Allred is trailing behind incumbent Senator Ted Cruz in the upcoming November general election. To secure victory in the traditionally Republican-leaning state, Allred will need to make significant strides in his campaign.