Rep. Colin Allred, a Democrat representing the northeastern suburbs of Dallas, is reportedly planning to announce his candidacy for U.S. Senate “as soon as this week” challenging incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Allred, a former NFL linebacker and voting rights attorney who was first elected to Congress in 2018, has been speculated for months to be considering a run for senate. He is popular within the Democratic Caucus and serves as a member of the leadership team led by Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass.
Politico and the Texas Tribune each reported that Allred is set to enter the race against Cruz, citing sources familiar with his plans. Last week, Inside Elections reporter Jacob Rubashkin noted that Allred’s website is being redesigned, which fueled speculation that the congressman’s announcement is imminent.
A spokesman for Allred did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Allred’s candidacy would pit a rising star in the Democratic Party who previously upset a long-term GOP incumbent against Cruz, a stalwart conservative and runner-up to the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Any Democrat running statewide in Texas is an underdog by default — Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994. However, Beto O’Rouke came within three percentage points of defeating Cruz in 2018, and Allred is a proven fundraiser with several of bipartisan accomplishments that boost his credentials as a moderate.
Allred won his seat in Congress in 2018 with an upset victory against Rep. Pete Sessions, a former House Rules Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee chairman who later relocated to a more favorable district and returned to the House.
He has since won re-election twice following Texas’ redistricting in 2020, which made his seat safely Democratic. During his time in Congress, Allred has worked with Republicans to build VA medical facilities in Texas and has secured federal dollars for various infrastructure projects in his district. He requested $241 million in earmarks for his district in 2021, which according to Roll Call was among the largest earmarks request of any House lawmaker that year. Those earmarks mostly funded infrastructure projects at DFW International Airport and were requested alongside Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.
Allred was endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Congress in each of his re-election efforts, which is unusual for a Democrat and demonstrates his cross-party appeal. Federal records show he has $2.2 million cash on hand to fund a Senate campaign, representing his strong ability to fundraise.
Still, Cruz has $3.3 million in his campaign war chest. The two-term senator announced his intention to seek re-election in February and has vowed to “keep Texas red.”
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[…] Former NFL Player to Challenge Ted Cruz for Senate Seat […]
The USA would be a better place when Ted Cruz is retired from politics.
Ted Cruz is a lousy excuse for a man or a human being.
Bull crap nothing wrong with Cruz he’s as good as that dude that wants to replace him
Says the troll Democrat and I guess you think Biden is mentally fit to be President
I am NOT a Democrat, I am an old fashion Republican that stands for dignity, fair play, honesty and have a brain.
Biden is more mentally fit that Trump ever was.
Trump was given a good economy by Obama, 4 years later our GDP had decrease, our deficit increased, people were dying by troves. Biden is far from my ideal for President, but far better choice than what my party is currently offering.
BTW, not nice to insult somebody in anonymity. Notice I use my full name to back my opinions, anonymity is cowardice.
It is high time we have someone to run for Mexico Cruz’s seat and get the rapist out of office.
“Allred was endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Congress in each of his re-election efforts, which is unusual for a Democrat and demonstrates his cross-party appeal.”
Looks like the unions and cheap labor proponents endorsing him. Hmmm?
I will always vote AGAINST ted cruz. When most of Texas had no heat due to winter weather he went to Mexico.
Ex National Felons League running for the senate. Personally I would not vote for him if he paid me $1,000,000.00 to do so
Dude. Give me a million dollars and I would even vote for Trump.
Yes my conscience will bother me, but a million $$$ can buy a lot of Jameson to allow me to forget.
BTW, the NFL probably have a much better record of outstanding citizens than the current GOP. Reagan send weapons to Iran, Nixon had Watergate, Bush Jr. got us in a war in Iraq and Afghanistan under false pretenses and Trump….. Do I need to say more?