Colin Allred, a former Congressman from Texas, kicked off his Senate campaign on Tuesday, expressing a growing sense of optimism about the 2026 elections in the Lone Star State.
“I want to advocate for hardworking Texans and work to reduce costs while putting an end to corrupt politicians like John Cornyn and Ken Paxton!” he stated in his announcement video.
Allred, who previously played professional football, is entering the Democratic primary, a contest that promises to be one of the most contentious Republican primaries in recent years.
Last year, Allred challenged Senator Ted Cruz, coming up just eight points short. However, Democrats believe they have a better shot this time around due to the divisive nature of the emerging primary between Cornyn and Paxton. Rep. Wesley Hunt is also reportedly contemplating a run and has touched base with the White House about his potential candidacy.
Currently, Paxton appears to lead Cornyn in most polls ahead of the February primary. Yet, other surveys indicate that Democrats are not far behind Paxton in the general election. A recent poll from Texas Southern University showed Cornyn narrowly ahead by four points, with Paxton only two points in front of Allred. Another poll conducted by the Senate Leadership Fund, which backs Cornyn, indicated Cornyn leading by six points, with Hunt trailing slightly and Paxton just ahead.
In preparation for 2026, Democrats have started ramping up their spending in the state. The Texas Majority PAC and Texas Democrats initiated an eight-figure campaign called “Blue Texas” last week, aiming to mobilize voters in the upcoming year.
Allred is the second Democrat to enter the race, following the recent announcement of former NASA astronaut and retired Air Force Colonel Terry Batis. Batis has positioned himself as an outsider in Washington.
“We must put an end to Trump’s chaos. Corruption is rampant, and our constitution is under siege,” Batis declared in his launch video.
