Allred Exits Texas Senate Race for House Comeback as Crockett’s Senate Choice Nears

Former Representative Colin Allred has ended his campaign for the U.S. Senate in Texas and will instead seek to return to the House of Representatives. This shift could clear the path for Representative Jasmine Crockett to become the leading Democratic candidate for the Senate seat currently held by Republican John Cornyn.

Crockett is expected to announce her Senate candidacy by the qualifying deadline on Monday. Allred’s decision comes amid concerns about a divisive Democratic primary that could weaken the party’s chances in Texas, a state long dominated by Republicans. He stated that avoiding a “bruising Senate primary and runoff” was key to maintaining party unity ahead of the critical election.

Allred will run in a newly-drawn congressional district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This district includes portions he previously represented from 2019 to 2025. The redistricting followed the GOP-controlled legislature’s map changes, which aimed to favor Republican House candidates as part of former President Donald Trump’s influence on Texas politics.

The new district is currently represented mainly by Representative Marc Veasey, who plans to run in a neighboring district. Allred’s return to the House signals a possible rematch of the political dynamics seen in recent years, during which Democrats made gains in suburban Texas districts but struggled in statewide races.

Republicans face their own primaries with Senator John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt all expected to compete. The primary contests on both sides highlight the intense competition shaping the 2024 midterms in Texas.

Allred, a former NFL player and civil rights lawyer, was a high-profile Democratic recruit in the 2018 midterms that helped flip the House majority. Despite gaining ground in some congressional districts, Democrats failed to capture statewide offices, as reflected in Allred’s defeat to Ted Cruz by 8.5 percentage points last November.

As Crockett weighs her Senate bid and Allred runs to reclaim a House seat, Texas Democrats hope to build momentum in a political landscape that continues to challenge their party’s statewide ambitions.