Texas Democratic Rep. Colin Allred announced his intention to run for the U.S. Senate in 2024, making him an early contender against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. A former NFL player and three-term congressman, Allred joins the race as a significant underdog. Although no Democrat has won statewide office in Texas for nearly three decades, Cruz only narrowly defeated Beto O’Rourke in 2018, during a favourable midterm election cycle for Democrats.
In a campaign launch video, Allred said, “Some people say a Democrat can’t win in Texas. Well, someone like me was never supposed to get this far.” Currently, Democrats hold a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate, and the 2024 electoral map presents challenges for the party, as they will be defending 23 seats compared to the Republicans’ 10. Three of those Democratic seats are in states that former President Donald Trump, a Republican, won in the 2020 election.
No other prominent Texas Democrats have entered the Senate race thus far. The party is again attempting to rebuild in the country’s largest red state, following O’Rourke’s double-digit loss in a costly effort to unseat Republican Gov. Greg Abbott last year. Allred, a former linebacker for the Tennessee Titans, will relinquish a secure congressional seat for Democrats in Dallas by entering the Senate race. He currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Cruz, who ran for president in 2016, has focused on reelection for the upcoming year. Cruz’s campaign claimed that Allred is “too extreme for Texas” and that his voting record is “completely out-of-touch” with the state.
As Allred embarks on his Senate campaign, he will likely focus on key issues that resonate with Texas voters, such as job creation, infrastructure, and healthcare. By highlighting his unique background as a former NFL player and his accomplishments in Congress, Allred aims to present himself as a fresh alternative to Cruz and a candidate who can bridge the political divide in the state.
The upcoming Senate race will likely attract significant attention and resources from both national parties, as Democrats seek to maintain or expand their narrow Senate majority while Republicans aim to regain control. Texas has long been a Republican stronghold, but recent demographic shifts and increased urbanization have made the state more competitive for Democrats.
Allred’s entry into the race may encourage other prominent Democrats in Texas to consider running for the Senate seat, creating a potentially competitive primary. However, the challenge for Democrats will be to unite the party behind a single candidate and effectively mobilize the state’s increasingly diverse electorate.
As the 2024 election cycle unfolds, both Allred and Cruz will have to navigate the changing political landscape in Texas and respond to the evolving priorities of their constituents. The race may serve as a bellwether for the state’s future political direction and provide insight into whether Democrats can make further inroads in this traditionally red territory.
