Cruz’s campaign has heavily focused on transgender people’s participation in youth sports, airing multiple attack ads during prime-time slots, including NFL games, the Houston Chronicle reports. These ads avoid directly addressing transgender youth, instead accusing Allred of supporting policies that undermine fairness in sports, particularly for cisgender women. In one super PAC ad, a hulking figure wearing an “Allred” jersey tackles a young girl on a football field, reinforcing the portrayal that his support for inclusive policies harms women in sports.

On Friday, Allred released an ad attempting to blunt the impact of Cruz’s messaging by adopting more conservative talking points. “I’m a dad. I’m also a Christian. My faith has taught me that all kids are God’s kids,” Allred says in the ad. “So let me be clear. I don’t want boys playing girls’ sports or any of this ridiculous stuff that Ted Cruz is saying.”