U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic Party supporters are gathering in Chicago, as current Vice President Kamala Harris is named her party's presidential nominee.

Senator Ted Cruz speaks as he hosted a law enforcement and public safety rally with law enforcement leaders at King's Bierhaus on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Houston.

Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, walks on stage to speak during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Kim Ogg greets Senator Ted Cruz as he took the stage during a law enforcement and public safety rally with law enforcement leaders at King's Bierhaus on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Houston.

A new University of Texas poll is giving Democrats a reality check, showing Senate candidate Colin Allred trailing Ted Cruz by 8 points, which, if true, would make him less popular among Texas voters than Kamala Harris.

This snapshot of the voters’ mood will fuel criticisms that Allred’s low-key approach and distancing from Harris is the wrong way for a Democrat to win in Texas.

The UT/Texas Politics Project Poll of 1,200 Texas registered voters between Aug. 23-31 has a 2.83% margin error. Even with that margin, the result is a far cry from other surveys that found Allred only 2.1 points behind........

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