In a bold political move, Colin Allred, a former Democratic representative from Texas, has declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
This announcement, made through a campaign video, sets the stage for a high-stakes contest against Republican Senator John Cornyn, who has held his seat for over twenty years. Allred, who previously served the Dallas area in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025, is no stranger to challenging formidable opponents. In the 2024 election, he faced off against Senator Ted Cruz but was defeated by a margin of 8.5 percentage points, despite amassing a campaign fund exceeding $80 million.
As reported by the Daily Caller, Allred's ambition is to shift Texasa state that President Donald Trump secured by nearly 14 points in the 2024 electiontoward the Democratic column at the federal level, a feat not accomplished since 1988. Allred, who once played as a linebacker for the NFL's Tennessee Titans, aims to break the Republican stronghold in the Lone Star State. In his campaign video, Allred criticized the current political leadership, stating, Texans are working harder than ever, not getting as much time with their kids, missing those special moments, all to be able to afford less. And the people we elected to help? Politicians like John Cornyn and [Republican Texas Attorney General] Ken Paxton are too corrupt to care about and too weak to fight for us.
Senator Cornyn, however, faces his own challenges before the general election. He must first overcome a primary battle against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is currently leading in several polls. A survey conducted by a Paxton-supporting super PAC indicates a significant 19-point advantage for Paxton over Cornyn. President Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in this race, leaving the Republican primary landscape open to further developments.
On the Democratic side, Allred is not without competition. Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut and political newcomer, has also entered the Senate race, adding another layer of complexity to the Democratic primary.
The Senate Leadership Fund, a conservative political action committee, has already launched an attack on Allred, labeling him as "an out of touch Washington, DC liberal who supported Joe Bidens open borders, biological men competing against our daughters, and even said it would be better if the Second Amendment had never been written." The statement further asserted, "Texas voters have already rejected Allred for the radical liberal he is, and theyll do it again next fall."
In response to inquiries, Allred's campaign directed the Daily Caller News Foundation to a press release accompanying the announcement video. The release highlighted Allred's intention to introduce a series of policy proposals, beginning with an anti-corruption initiative aimed at reducing costs for Texas families.
As the race unfolds, both parties are gearing up for what promises to be a fiercely contested battle for one of Texas's coveted Senate seats.
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