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By Kate Plummer and Shane Croucher
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Colin Allred has said he is dropping out of the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate nomination in Texas and will instead run for a newly drawn congressional district in the state.
"In the past few days, 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," Allred said in a statement on Monday.
"That’s why I’ve made the difficult decision to end my campaign for the U.S. Senate.
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"But I’m nowhere near done serving my community and our state. Today, I’m announcing my campaign for Congress to represent the newly drawn Congressional District 33."
Newsweek reached out to Allred's team for comment by email outside of regular working hours.
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Why It Matters
Allred's decision will shake up the Democratic Senate primary, but it remains an uphill battle for the Democrats to win the Senate seat.
Texas backed President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election with 56.1 percent of the vote, and Senator Ted Cruz beat Allred last year after securing 53 percent.
What To Know
With Allred out of the race, state representative James Talarico will stand in the Democratic primary in March 2026. Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett, and former Representative Beto O'Rourke have also been named as potential candidates.
Polling conducted earlier this year indicated that Allred was lagging behind other potential candidates in the race for the Senate nomination. A July survey of 566 likely Democratic voters, conducted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, revealed the Crockett was in the lead with 35 percent of the vote, followed by Allred on 20 percent, and O'Rourke and Castro both on 13 percent.
According to the betting platform Polymarket, Talarico would win 45 percent of the vote in a hypothetical Democratic primary, followed by Crockett on 42 percent, and Allred on 17 percent.
Allred's decision has renewed speculation that Crockett, who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, will announce her bid. Crockett said she would make a "special announcement" in Dallas on Monday, 90 minutes before the deadline for candidates to file their paperwork.
Allred's move comes days after the Supreme Court allowed Texas to move forward with its new congressional map in next year's elections. The new map is expected to favor Republican candidates.
To capture the 33rd District, Allred will need to defeat his successor, Representative Julie Johnson, a former state lawmaker who won the race to replace him when he gave up his seat to run for the Senate in 2024.
The 33rd Congressional District is currently represented by Democratic Marc Veasey, who is also vying for another term.
What People Are Saying
Allred wrote on X: "I am deeply moved by the personal stories and trust that so many Texans have placed in me. I'm forever grateful and believe it comes with heavy responsibility. That's why I’ve made the difficult decision to end my campaign for Senate and run to represent the newly drawn CD-33."
Crockett told SiriusXM’s The Lurie Daniel Favors Show in October: "Every other day there's a poll that comes out that makes it clear that I can win the primary for the U.S. Senate race in Texas. And I am looking."
Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at University College Dublin, told Newsweek that "Allred's decision to drop out makes this a straightforward primary," and that "Crockett with her profile is a strong candidate." On the other hand, he added Republicans might "spend a lot of resources" in their three-way primary, weakening them.
What Happens Next
The primaries for the Senate race in Texas are scheduled to take place in March 2026, with the general election following on November 3.
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