Democrats are investing $5 million in Allred's ad campaign against Cruz

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are supporting Rep. Colin Allred's attempt to defeat Texas Senator Ted Cruz are investing $5 million in an advertising campaign on abortion, putting them in a late campaign for a Republican seat seen as safe.

The Senate Majority PAC's announcement comes as Democrats face a number of challenging races across the country to retain control of the upper chamber of Congress. Several Democrats are running in states that will go to Republican nominee Donald Trump next month.

Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994. That streak continued even as several elections over the years drew national attention — perhaps most notably Cruz's final re-election bid against him Rep. Beto O'Rourke, which became a sensation among liberals and raised huge sums of money. Cruz beat O'Rourke by just over 2 percentage points.

The Senate Majority PAC said its ad will focus on reproductive rights and highlight the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to strike down a nationwide guaranteed right to abortion. Texas has since banned all abortions.

The ad will run in major state media markets starting Friday, the same day presidential candidates from both parties visit the state.

Trump will remain seated a recording with podcaster Joe Rogan and hold a press conference in Austin on immigration issues. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris is traveling to Houston a big rally with Beyoncéthe star singer who grew up in the fourth largest city in the country.