SouthernWorldwide.com – Former U.S. Representative Colin Allred, a Democrat from Texas, is on the verge of making a return to Congress after securing a victory in a closely fought Democratic primary runoff election held on Tuesday.
According to reports from The Associated Press, Allred triumphed over fellow Democrat, Representative Julie Johnson, in a runoff election for a House seat that had recently undergone redistricting.
Given the district’s strong Democratic leanings, Allred is widely expected to win the general election in November. The district, which is based in Dallas, was redrawn by Republicans in the previous year to enhance its Democratic advantage. This was part of a broader congressional map designed to help the Republican party gain control of as many as five House seats.
The primary contest became increasingly contentious as both candidates vied fiercely to maintain their political careers within one of the few remaining Texas House districts where Democrats still hold a discernible advantage.
The incumbent for the district, Democratic Texas Representative Marc Veasey, made the decision not to seek re-election. This decision prompted Johnson to enter the race after Republicans effectively redrew her out of her existing district.
Johnson, who is serving her first term as a lawmaker, had originally succeeded Allred in Congress. Allred had previously vacated the seat to pursue a campaign against Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, in 2024, a bid that ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Allred subsequently decided to challenge Johnson for the open House seat in late 2025. This decision came after he suspended his Senate campaign for 2026, as it had failed to gain significant momentum.
The former NFL linebacker later endorsed Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, during the final stages of the Senate primary contest. This endorsement followed Allred’s accusation that state Representative James Talarico, Crockett’s opponent, had made a racially charged remark about him. Allred claimed that Talarico allegedly made this comment during a private phone conversation with a party activist.
Talarico, who is the Democratic Party’s nominee for the Senate, has vehemently denied making the remark, stating that he never called Allred a “mediocre Black man.” He asserted that his private comments were in reference to the former congressman’s campaign strategy.
Crockett officially endorsed Allred in April and actively campaigned alongside him. In contrast, Talarico publicly lent his support to Johnson’s campaign.
Johnson also received backing from prominent groups, including House Democratic leadership, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the pro-abortion advocacy group EMILY’s List, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among others.
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Allred likely benefited from greater name recognition due to his previous statewide campaigns and a substantial advantage in fundraising. He had emerged as the leading vote-getter in the March 3 primary, holding an 11-point lead over Johnson. However, the former congressman did not secure over 50% of the vote, necessitating a runoff election.
