Texas politics just threw another curveball with a former Democratic Party star stepping off the Senate stage.
Colin Allred, once a House member from Texas, has bowed out of the Senate race, citing concerns over party division, while whispers grow louder about progressive Rep. Jasmine Crockett possibly jumping into the fray and Allred himself eyeing a newly carved congressional district, as Fox News reports.
Allred, a former NFL linebacker turned civil rights lawyer, first burst onto the political scene in 2018 by flipping a Republican seat in the Dallas area.
Allred secured re-election in 2020 and 2022, building a reputation as a steady hand, but after launching a second Senate bid in July. He’s now decided to pivot.
On Monday, Allred announced that he’s stepping back from the Senate contest, worried that a contentious Democratic Party primary could fracture the party’s chances against a formidable Republican lineup.
"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," Allred stated, pointing to the threat posed by GOP heavyweights like Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
While Allred’s exit raises eyebrows, the rumor mill is churning with talk of Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a second-term progressive known for her fiery social media presence, possibly entering the race by Monday evening.
Crockett, who has made waves with sharp critiques of Republican policies and even drew national attention at the Democratic National Convention. It is set to make an announcement at 5:30 p.m, per reports from the Dallas Morning News.
Her bold style has turned heads, though some might argue it veers into over-the-top territory with comparisons of political figures to historical tyrants. Still, her potential candidacy could shake up an already crowded field.
Meanwhile, Allred isn’t hanging up his political cleats; he’s now targeting the newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District, which incorporates more of Dallas County while shedding parts of Tarrant County.
"The 33rd district was racially gerrymandered by Trump in an effort to further rig our democracy but it's also the community where I grew up," Allred remarked, framing his next fight as a homecoming despite the messy redistricting drama.
Let’s be frank. Redrawing maps to tilt the scales, as upheld by the Supreme Court last week under Gov. Greg Abbott’s watch, smells like political gamesmanship, though Allred’s personal connection to the area adds a layer of sincerity to his bid.
Allred won’t have an easy path in the 33rd, as he’s expected to clash with Rep. Julie Johnson, who’s also shifting districts to compete there, while current Rep. Marc Veasey’s plans remain up in the air.
On the Senate front, Democrat state lawmaker James Talarico, who entered the race in September, could face new dynamics if Crockett throws her hat in by the Monday evening filing deadline.
With a Republican primary featuring titans like Cornyn, Paxton, and Hunt, Texas conservatives are already flexing muscle, while Democrats scramble to avoid self-inflicted wounds. It's a classic case of progressive infighting risking a broader loss, if you ask this observer.
