State and federal lawmakers from Texas reacted along party lines in response to Thursday night's debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Thursday was the first of two debates the candidates agreed to; the second is scheduled for Sept. 10.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) attended Thursday's debate in Atlanta. Afterward, she told reporters "abortion is on the ballot."
"What we saw was someone who sat up there, acting like he was some used car salesman who wanted to just tell us whatever and pretend as if it was fact," she said. "The reality is our president submitted to you what looks like substance. The substance of the issue is simple. We have somebody who is bragging about the fact he took Roe v. Wade away from us."
State Rep. Venton Jones (D-Dallas) said Biden has "demonstrated he is ready to continue leading our country as commander-in-chief for four more years with a booming economy."
"President and Democrats are committed to continue strengthening Texas and has fueled our state's future with a massive $150 billion investment and created 1.8 million new Texas jobs. Joe Biden is the only serious president in 2024. His vision for America champions freedom, the middle class, and progress for the future," Jones wrote on X.
Among Republicans, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) posted an episode of his podcast, Verdict, after the debate Thursday.
"We have just witnessed what I believe is the most consequential presidential debate in U.S. history," Cruz said.
Cruz said Biden "did so disastrously badly," he believes there is an 80% chance Democrats will replace Biden with Michelle Obama at the top of their ticket at their convention in Chicago this August.
"The degree of dementia he is facing right now, it has escalated to a point it is unrecognizable," Cruz said. "I think there are a great many Democrats who are looking at this, saying, 'We cannot nominate this man.'"
In an email from his campaign staff, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) described Biden as "slow to respond, incoherent, and unable to defend his disastrous record on the border."
"President Trump is a strong, decisive leader who puts America first with real border security and the enforcement of our immigration laws. Tonight, he reiterated his successful actions as President that will secure the border, including building a border wall and reinstating the effective border policies President Biden dismantled on day one in office. His bold solutions stand in stark contrast to the crime and chaos we see under the Biden Administration," Abbott wrote.
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