Key Takeaways
- Colin Allred is dropping out of the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and will run for the Dallas-based 33rd Congressional District instead.
- Allred’s decision aims to avoid a bruising primary and maximize the party’s chances of winning in November.
- The 33rd Congressional District is a newly drawn district, and Allred will face his successor, Rep. Julie Johnson, in the primary.
- The district was created after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the state to use a new GOP-friendly map crafted earlier this year.
- The primary could be messy, with Johnson and Allred competing against each other, and potentially other candidates, including former state Rep. Domingo Garcia.
Introduction to Colin Allred’s Decision
Colin Allred, a former Dallas congressman, has made a significant change in his political plans. He is dropping out of the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and will instead run for the Dallas-based 33rd Congressional District. This decision comes on the last day for candidates to file for Texas’ 2026 primaries. Allred’s decision is motivated by his desire to avoid a bruising primary and maximize the party’s chances of winning in November. He believes that a runoff would prevent the Democratic Party from going into the critical election unified against the danger posed to the community and the Constitution by Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
The Reasoning Behind Allred’s Decision
Allred’s decision to exit the Senate primary is driven by the likelihood of a runoff if U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a fellow Dallasite, decides to run. A runoff would require the Democratic nominee to spend more time and money on the intraparty fight, rather than focusing on the general election. By avoiding a runoff, the eventual Democratic nominee can start stockpiling resources sooner for the fall general election. Allred’s decision also takes into account the entry of state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, into the Senate race, which further complicated his path to the nomination.
The New 33rd Congressional District
The 33rd Congressional District is a newly drawn district, created after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the state to use a new GOP-friendly map crafted earlier this year. The district contains about a third of the residents from Allred’s former congressional district, which he represented for six years after flipping the seat in 2018. Allred has a personal connection to the district, having grown up attending public schools and watching his mom struggle to pay for groceries in the community. He has also secured over $135 million in federal resources for affordable housing, public transportation, and healthcare for the district.
The Primary Competition
The primary competition for the 33rd Congressional District is expected to be intense. Allred will face his successor, Rep. Julie Johnson, who has represented the 32nd Congressional District since January. Johnson has already endorsed Talarico in the Senate race and has the support of Equality PAC, which backs LGBTQ+ candidates. The PAC has warned against trying to unseat Johnson, who is the first openly LGBTQ Member of Congress from Texas. Former state Rep. Domingo Garcia may also run in the 33rd Congressional District, adding to the complexity of the primary.
The Broader Implications
Allred’s decision to exit the Senate primary raises the odds that the contest will be settled in the March primary, rather than the May runoff. This means that the eventual Democratic nominee will have more time and resources to focus on the general election. However, the congressional primary could still be messy, with Johnson and Allred competing against each other, and potentially other candidates. The outcome of the primary will have significant implications for the Democratic Party’s chances in the general election, as well as the representation of the 33rd Congressional District.