2018 Election Preview: U.S. Senator from Texas

Watch and read Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke debate policing in Texas

In a Sept. 21 debate, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and his Democratic challenger Representative Beto O’Rourke were asked about Amber Guyger, the Dallas police officer who killed Botham Jean in his own apartment. Cruz promptly attacked O’Rourke for disrespecting police officers. “I think it is offensive to call police officers modern-day Jim Crow. That is not Texas,” he said. “If African Americans represent 13 percent of the population yet they represent one-third of those who are shot by law enforcement we have something wrong,” O’Rourke later said.
You can watch the full relevant section of this debate or read our transcript of the exchange.
In addition, Tim Murphy analyzed this aspect of the debate for Mother Jones, placing it in the context of the candidates’ broader rhetoric.

This preview is part of our 2018 election coverage.