Colin Allred Announces Senate Campaign for John Cornyn’s Seat in Texas
Former Rep. Colin Allred, a Democrat from Texas, has officially declared his intention to run for the Senate in the upcoming election, targeting the seat held by Republican John Cornyn for over two decades. Allred, who is a former NFL player, previously attempted to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz in the last election but was unsuccessful. His announcement marks him as the first significant Democratic contender to enter this race. In a campaign launch video, Allred attempts to redirect the narrative that many Republicans leveraged in the previous elections.
He attributes rising living costs to the actions of President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress. “Texans are working harder than ever, not getting as much time with their kids, missing those special moments, all to afford less,” Allred stated. He criticized incumbent politicians like Cornyn and Ken Paxton, claiming they are “too corrupt to care” and “too weak to fight” for the people of Texas. The Republican field for the Senate race remains uncertain.
Despite Cornyn’s status as a long-serving incumbent, he is facing a noteworthy challenge from far-right state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Both candidates are vying for Trump’s endorsement, which could significantly impact the GOP primary. While Paxton garners substantial support from the MAGA faction, national Republican strategists express concerns about his potential to hinder the party’s chances in the general election, particularly in a traditionally Republican state like Texas. Several other Democrats are contemplating entering the race, and with the party currently out of power in Washington, Democrats hope for a more favorable political environment come election time.
Allred aims to capitalize on a long-held Democratic aspiration to secure a Senate seat in Texas, a state that has not seen a Democratic Senate winner since 1988. Despite Trump’s substantial win in Texas last year and Allred’s prior defeat to Cruz, there is a sense of urgency among Democrats to close the gap. In the 2018 midterms, Beto O’Rourke came remarkably close to defeating Cruz, losing by just under three points, indicating the competitive nature of Texas politics.