Colin Allred Suspends Senate Campaign in Texas
Colin Allred, the former Democratic representative from Texas, announced on Monday that he will pause his campaign to challenge Republican Senator John Cornyn. He cited concerns that a primary battle might undermine the chances of the eventual Democratic nominee.
After previously seeking a Senate seat in 2024, Allred intends to pursue a position in the newly drawn House district in Dallas, which was formed as a result of the Texas Republican Party’s mid-decade redistricting. His announcement arrives as fellow Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett is anticipated to reveal her Senate candidacy plans later that day.
“I’m truly honored by the personal stories and faith that many Texans have shared with me,” Allred, a former NFL linebacker, said. “I feel a deep sense of responsibility, which is why I made the tough call to end my Senate aspirations and instead focus on the newly established CD-33.” Monday marked the filing deadline for the Texas primary, with the Democratic Senate primary scheduled for March 3, 2026.
Allred served three terms in the House from 2019 to 2025 and faced consistent challenges from Democratic state Representative James Talarico in fundraising and polling. Talarico is considered a promising figure in the Democratic Party, reportedly raising over $6 million shortly after launching his campaign.
Allred has filed to run in the district previously held by Democratic Representative Julie Johnson, his direct successor. Johnson, who took over his House seat when Allred moved to run for the Senate in 2024, has announced her intention to seek re-election, potentially setting up a notable Democratic primary contest.
Crockett’s possible entry into the Senate race may complicate matters for Democrats, raising the risk of a runoff if none of the candidates secure more than 50% of the votes, thereby necessitating a runoff election in May.
The anticipated three-way election involving Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Representative Wesley Hunt might also lead to a runoff.
Recently, Crockett has been gaining traction in her Senate ambitions. She reportedly spoke with both Allred and Talarico to discuss internal polling. “The numbers reflect my public statements. They indicate I have a strong chance of winning,” she conveyed.
In a hypothetical Democratic primary matchup, Crockett appeared to lead, according to University of Houston and Texas State University polls from October, where 31% of Democratic primary voters favored her, followed by Beto O’Rourke and Talarico at 25% each, with Allred at just 13%.
In the November 2024 elections, Allred was defeated by Republican Senator Ted Cruz, even with the Texas Democratic Party reportedly raising over $80 million. Allred had gained attention in 2018 for flipping a Republican-held seat, part of a significant Democratic push.
For Democrats to regain a Senate majority in the upcoming midterm elections, they would need to flip four seats, a challenging task given that they haven’t won statewide office in Texas for over three decades.
