Colin Allred Shifts Strategy: Ends Senate Bid to Pursue Texas’ 33rd Congressional District

• Colin Allred has withdrawn from the Texas Democratic Senate primary and will run for Congress in the 33rd District.
• The move comes as redistricting reshapes the Dallas-Fort Worth political map, creating new challenges and opportunities.
• Allred’s decision aims to avoid a divisive primary and strengthen the Democratic position for the general election.
• The 33rd District race will pit Allred against his successor, Julie Johnson, and potentially other Democratic contenders.
• Redistricting and shifting alliances have intensified competition among prominent Texas Democrats.

Colin Allred Steps Away from Senate Race, Eyes Congressional Comeback

Colin Allred, a familiar name in Texas politics, has made a strategic pivot in the closing hours of the 2026 primary filing period. After months of campaigning for the U.S. Senate, Allred announced he is dropping out of the race and will instead run for Congress in the newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District based in Dallas. The decision, as reported by The Texas Tribune, marks the end of a Senate campaign that lasted just over five months and signals a reshuffling of Democratic priorities amid a rapidly changing political landscape.

Redistricting: The New Political Reality in Dallas-Fort Worth

The backdrop to Allred’s move is a sweeping redistricting effort that has upended the Dallas-Fort Worth map. The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed Texas to use a new, GOP-friendly map that reconfigures congressional boundaries, leaving Democrats with fewer winnable districts. The 33rd District, now an amalgamation of three previously Democratic seats, includes about a third of the residents from Allred’s former district, which he represented for six years after flipping it in 2018.

Marc Veasey, the current representative for the 33rd District, will see his hometown and political base in Fort Worth removed from the district. He is expected to run in the 30th District, which opens the door for Allred to reclaim a seat in Congress. However, this path is complicated by the presence of Julie Johnson, who succeeded Allred after he vacated his seat to run for Senate in 2024. Johnson, the first openly lesbian member of Congress from any Southern state, now finds herself competing against her predecessor in the same district due to the mid-decade redistricting.

Democratic Calculations: Avoiding Division, Maximizing Unity

Allred’s withdrawal from the Senate race was a calculated move to prevent a bruising primary and runoff. The entry of state Rep. James Talarico and the expected candidacy of U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett threatened to split the Democratic vote, risking a costly and divisive runoff that could weaken the party ahead of the general election. In his statement, Allred emphasized the importance of unity: “I’ve come to believe that a bruising Senate Democratic primary and runoff would prevent the Democratic Party from going into this critical election unified against the danger posed to our communities and our Constitution by Donald Trump and one of his Republican bootlickers Paxton, Cornyn, or Hunt.”

Polling showed Allred trailing behind Crockett and Talarico in hypothetical matchups, and his decision to step aside may allow Democrats to coalesce behind a single candidate. This maneuver is not just about avoiding internal strife; it’s also about maximizing resources and preparing for a tough general election battle. The Democratic nominee will face the winner of a competitive GOP primary featuring incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

The Battle for the 33rd District: Allies Become Rivals

With Allred’s entry, the race for the 33rd District is set to become one of the most closely watched contests in Texas. Julie Johnson, who had endorsed Talarico for Senate, is now defending her seat against the very person she replaced. Equality PAC, which supports LGBTQ+ candidates, has warned against challenging Johnson, underscoring the significance of representation and the potential pitfalls of intraparty conflict. Former state Rep. Domingo Garcia is also considering a run, further complicating the field.

Allred’s ties to the district run deep. “The 33rd district was racially gerrymandered by Trump in an effort to further rig our democracy, but it’s also the community where I grew up attending public schools and watching my mom struggle to pay for our groceries,” Allred said in his statement. He highlighted his past achievements, including securing over $135 million in federal resources for affordable housing, public transportation, and health care, and establishing the Garland VA hospital for veterans in the district.

Texas Democrats: Searching for a Unified Front

The turbulence within the Democratic ranks reflects broader anxieties about the party’s prospects in Texas. Over the summer, Allred, Talarico, O’Rourke, and Joaquin Castro met to discuss coordinating their campaigns for various statewide offices, hoping to avoid splitting the vote in key races. Those talks ultimately failed, and the Senate contest became a magnet for prominent figures. Crockett, known for her sharp exchanges with Republicans and frequent cable news appearances, has emerged as a national personality, while Talarico brings a blend of progressive Christian faith and populist politics to the race.

Crockett’s expected entry into the Senate race and her efforts to create a slate of candidates illustrate the intense jockeying for position among Texas Democrats. CNN reported that Crockett even asked Allred to run for governor, but he had already endorsed state Rep. Gina Hinojosa for that office.

Allred’s exit from the Senate race increases the likelihood that the Democratic contest will be settled in the March primary, avoiding a costly May runoff. This streamlines the process and enables the nominee to focus on the general election earlier, a critical advantage in a state where campaign resources and time are often stretched thin.

What’s Next for Allred and Texas Democrats?

For Allred, the move represents both a return to familiar territory and a test of political resilience. The 33rd District is not the same as the one he represented before, but its composition gives him a base to build on. The contest with Johnson and potentially Garcia will force Democrats to navigate questions of loyalty, representation, and strategy in a district shaped by aggressive gerrymandering.

The broader implications for Texas Democrats are significant. Allred’s pivot is a microcosm of the challenges facing the party: how to unify around strong candidates, avoid damaging internal battles, and adapt to an electoral map designed to disadvantage them. The outcome of the 33rd District race will serve as an early indicator of whether Democrats can rally their base and win in the face of adversity.

Colin Allred’s decision to shift from a statewide Senate bid to a congressional race underscores the pragmatic calculations required in modern politics. Faced with redrawn districts, formidable opponents, and the imperative of party unity, Allred’s move reflects both personal conviction and the realities of Texas’ political terrain. Whether this strategy pays off will depend on the Democrats’ ability to turn internal competition into collective strength for November 2026.