MIDLAND, Texas — Senator Ted Cruz continued his state-wide bus tour Thursday by stopping at Tall City Brewing in Midland to hold a rally.
It was Cruz's second stop of the day after he made another stop in Lubbock earlier.
The incumbent senator - who has been serving the position since 2012 - is currently seeking a third term and is running against Democratic nominee Colin Allred, the U.S. representative of Texas's 32nd Congressional District.
Cruz consistently criticized Allred during the rally, comparing him to Kamala Harris, the current presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. Cruz was critical of Allred, claiming he voted for higher taxes and high regulation while voting against oil and gas jobs in the Permian Basin.
The incumbent senator also claimed to be a champion of oil and gas, saying oil and gas jobs in the Permian Basin were paramount to funding the state as a whole.
"I've been proud to fight every day as the leading defender of energy and oil and gas in the United States, because oil and gas is prosperity, oil and gas is opportunity and oil and gas is growth," Cruz said. "Oil and gas low cost energy drives down inflation. Oil and gas funds our schools. Oil and gas funds our future."
Cruz spoke in favor of numerous Republican topics, such as former President Donald Trump and his border wall, while also trumpeting the projects he has worked on that have brought jobs to Texas.
Cruz said many people from states like California and Illinois are fleeing their state to come to Texas and that areas like Midland and Odessa are key to not just the Permian Basin, but to all of Texas and America.
"I think Midland-Odessa is one of the most entrepreneurial places on the faces of the plant, it is founded by wildcatters who have the spirit of invention and fearlessness, who embody what Texas is," Cruz said. "I said for a long time that the whole state would reflect West Texas values. It would be phenomenal for Texas and if the whole country would embrace West Texas values, I think it would save America."
Cruz also said that, if the Republicans win the majority, he is in line to be the next chairman of the Senate Committee of Commerce, Science and Transportation.
He will be continuing his bus tour Friday, going to Abilene, Waco and College Station.