Allred Shifts Gears, Announces Congressional Run as Crockett Prepares Senate Bid in Texas
Texas Democrats are bracing for a dramatic reshuffling of their 2024 election strategy following Colin Allred’s unexpected announcement Monday that he is withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race. Allred will instead seek a seat in the newly drawn Congressional District 33, setting up a primary challenge against incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson. The move all but clears the path for Rep. Jasmine Crockett to launch her own bid for the Senate, a possibility she has been actively considering in recent months.
Allred, in a statement released Monday morning, cited the need for Democratic unity in the face of a challenging election cycle. “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,” he said. He emphasized his continued commitment to serving Texas, stating, “But I’m nowhere near done serving my community and our state.”
The newly-designated Congressional District 33 holds particular significance for Allred. He described it as the community where he grew up, attended public schools, and witnessed his mother’s struggles. He highlighted his past accomplishments in the district, including securing access to the Garland VA hospital and over $135 million in federal funding for affordable housing, public transportation, and healthcare. “It’s the community where I was raised, and where Aly and I are now raising our two boys. It is my home,” Allred affirmed.
Crockett is expected to formally announce her Senate candidacy later Monday, ahead of the state’s filing deadline for the March 3rd primary. She previously indicated that a viable path to victory in the general election, supported by data and polling, would be essential for her to enter the race. With Allred’s departure, Crockett will face state Rep. James Talarico of Austin, who has already filed his paperwork and reportedly raised $6.2 million in the first three weeks of his campaign.
The shifting dynamics come as Texas Democrats see a potential opening in the Senate race, fueled by the anticipated Republican primary battle between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Houston Rep. Wesley Hunt. Many analysts believe Paxton, burdened by legal challenges, could emerge as the GOP nominee, potentially creating an opportunity for Democrats to win a statewide race for the first time in over three decades.
Allred’s decision is directly linked to the contentious mid-decade redistricting battle in Texas. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the congressional maps redrawn by Republicans, a move designed to give the GOP up to five additional House seats at the expense of Democrats. Allred, who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Ted Cruz in 2023, losing by approximately nine percentage points, had represented the 32nd Congressional District for three terms before seeking the Senate seat.
The redrawn 32nd Congressional District is now expected to lean Republican, prompting Rep. Johnson to seek re-election in the 33rd District, which remains a Democratic stronghold. Crockett’s potential Senate run will leave her current seat in the 30th Congressional District open, with Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth expected to contend for the position. He may be joined by Dr. Frederick Haynes III, senior pastor at Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, who is reportedly being encouraged to enter the race.
The newly drawn 32nd Congressional District will now be contested by a field of Republican candidates including Ryan Binkley, Darrell Day, Aimee Carrasco, Monty Montanez and Paul Bondar. Notably, California Rep. Darrell Issa briefly considered a run in the district but ultimately decided to seek re-election in his California district following a meeting with President Trump. Texas state Rep. Katrina Pierson also weighed a bid but has announced her intention to run for re-election to her current position in the Texas House.
These rapid developments underscore the significant impact of redistricting on the Texas political landscape, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election year.
