Democratic Representative Colin Allred, who represents the northeastern suburbs of Dallas, is reportedly planning to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz for the U.S. Senate seat.
According to sources familiar with his plans, Allred is expected to announce his candidacy "as soon as this week."
Allred, a former NFL linebacker and voting rights attorney, was first elected to Congress in 2018 and is popular within the Democratic Caucus. He serves as a leadership team member led by Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass. Speculation about Allred's potential run for the Senate has been ongoing for months. Last week, Inside Elections reporter Jacob Rubashkin noted that Allred's website is being redesigned, fueling further speculation that an announcement is imminent.
If Allred runs, it would pit a rising star in the Democratic Party against Cruz, a stalwart conservative and runner-up to the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Although Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, Allred is a proven fundraiser with several bipartisan accomplishments that boost his credentials as a moderate. In 2018, Beto O'Rouke came within three percentage points of defeating Cruz, giving Democrats hope that they could win statewide races in Texas.
Allred won his seat in Congress in 2018 with an upset victory against former House Rules Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Rep. Pete Sessions. He has since won re-election twice following Texas' redistricting in 2020, which made his seat safely Democratic.
During his time in Congress, Allred has worked with Republicans to build VA medical facilities in Texas and has secured federal dollars for various infrastructure projects in his District. According to Roll Call, he requested $241 million in earmarks for his district in 2021, which was among the most significant earmarks request of any House lawmaker that year. Those earmarks mainly funded infrastructure projects at DFW International Airport and were requested alongside Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.
Allred's cross-party appeal is demonstrated by his endorsements from the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Congress in his re-election efforts, which is unusual for a Democrat. Federal records show he has $2.2 million cash to fund a Senate campaign, representing his strong fundraising ability. However, Cruz has $3.3 million in his campaign war chest and has vowed to "keep Texas red."
Allred's candidacy would be a significant challenge to Cruz's re-election bid, and how the race will unfold remains to be seen.
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