DALLAS — On Tuesday, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Dallas-area Rep. Colin Allred will face off in a debate for the first and only time this election cycle.

What You Need To Know

  • Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, will take part in their first and only debate on Tuesday night 

  • It's anticipated that debate topics will include the border, health care, LGBTQ issues and abortion 

  • Critics say it's important that the candidates avoid major gaffes that could come back to haunt them on social media or in campaign ads 

  • The candidates have been polling within a few percentage points of each other

There is virtually no escaping the advertisements related to the Texas Senate race as Allred tries to unseat Cruz. The two will take part in a televised debate in Dallas.

“There are so many issues that are set up for this debate that people really need to hear from,” said Rita Kirk, Southern Methodist University professor of public affairs.

Abortion and reproductive rights, the border and immigration, Social Security and LGBTQ issues are the main policies the candidates appear to be focusing on in their ads. That may hold true for the debate as well.

Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Kardal Coleman believes health care will be the more important issue voters want to hear about, adding that it’s what sets Allred apart from Cruz.

“Not just from reproductive rights, but from the issue of IVF and family planning. As an individual who has a young family himself, he'll shine in that moment. Texas needs health care,” Coleman said.

Dallas County Republicans say the conversation on border security will help Cruz win the debate and voters.

“I think, without a doubt, what's on everyone's mind here in Texas, especially with the 1,400 of miles, almost, that we have of an open border, is our border security, which leads to our own safety and security in our respective homes,” said Lt. Col. Allen West, Dallas County Republican Party chair.

The showdown will air in primetime, but some don’t expect a large audience.

“In part because this is the beginning of the new fall season lineup of television shows. So, it's more likely that we're going to see partisans watching the debate, supporting their person,” said Kirk.

But it's critical both candidates avoid major gaffes that could inundate the airwaves and social media after the debate. 

“The rule is do no harm, right? You don't want to harm your campaign in any way, but as you've seen even from the presidential debates, debates will be used to take snippets from those debates and to propel them into commercials that will follow. So that's where you're really working with your candidates, trying to make sure that they don't make the mistake, whatever that might be,” Kirk said.

The Cruz campaign did not respond to a question about their debate preparation. The Allred campaign gave no comment.