In a surprising turn of events, former Democratic Texas Representative Colin Allred has withdrawn from the race to challenge Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn.
Allred cited the need to avoid a contentious primary that could potentially weaken the Democratic nominee's chances.
According to the Daily Caller, Allred, who had previously attempted a Senate run in 2024, has now set his sights on a newly established congressional district in Dallas. This district was formed as part of the mid-decade redistricting effort by Texas Republicans.
Allred's decision to withdraw from the Senate race comes at a time when Democratic Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett is anticipated to reveal her intentions regarding a Senate run.
In a statement, Allred, a former NFL linebacker, expressed his gratitude to his supporters, saying, "I am deeply moved by the personal stories and trust that so many Texans have placed in me. Im forever grateful and believe it comes with heavy responsibility. He further explained his decision, stating, Thats why Ive made the difficult decision to end my campaign for Senate and run to represent the newly drawn CD-33.
The deadline for filing to participate in the Texas primaries is today, with the Democratic Senate primary election scheduled for March 3, 2026. Allred, who served three terms in the House between 2019 and 2025, has consistently lagged behind Democratic state legislator James Talarico in both polling and fundraising.
Talarico, who is concurrently studying to become a Christian pastor, has been identified as a rising star within the Democratic Party, having raised over $6 million within the first three weeks of his campaign.
Allred has filed to run in the Dallas-based district currently represented by one-term Democratic Texas Representative Julie Johnson. Johnson, who succeeded Allred in the House when he vacated his seat in 2024 for a Senate run, has announced her intention to seek re-election, setting the stage for a high-profile Democratic primary showdown.
Crockett's potential entry into the race could increase the chances of a runoff election, which may jeopardize the Democrats' hopes of unseating Cornyn. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the top two contenders would face off in a May runoff election.
The race between Cornyn, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Representative Wesley Hunt is also predicted to result in a runoff. Crockett, who has been gradually moving towards a Senate run, reportedly contacted Allred and Talarico last week to discuss internal polling, as initially reported by the Dallas Morning News.
Crockett confidently told the outlet, The numbers say what Ive said publicly: they say I can win. An October poll by the University of Houston-Texas State University showed Crockett leading the Democratic primary field in a hypothetical matchup, with 31% of Democratic primary voters supporting her, followed by ORourke and Talarico at 25%. Allred garnered a mere 13% support.
Despite raising over $80 million, Allred was defeated by Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz in November 2024. However, Allred had previously managed to flip a Republican-held seat in 2018 during a significant wave election for Democrats.
For Democrats to regain control of the Senate during the midterm elections, they must flip four seats and defend Democratic Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff. However, it's worth noting that Democrats have not secured a statewide office in Texas in over three decades, indicating the uphill battle they face.
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