Colin Allred Wins Texas Democratic Primary To Regain 33rd District Seat
Colin Allred won the Democratic primary runoff for Texas' 33rd Congressional District on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, defeating Rep. Julie Johnson and securing the party nomination to reclaim the Dallas-based seat.[1]
The Associated Press called the Democratic runoff for Allred on Tuesday.[2] In the March 3 primary, Allred finished first with nearly 44% to Johnson's more than 33%, leaving him about 11 points ahead but short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff.[1]
Allred had vacated the 33rd to run against Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, briefly launched a 2026 Senate campaign, then suspended that bid and reentered the House race in late 2025.[2] PBS reports he dropped his Senate bid the same day Rep. Jasmine Crockett announced her Senate campaign, then declared he would run for his old House seat.[3]
Rep. Marc Veasey chose not to seek reelection in the reconfigured Dallas-based district.[2] Republicans redrew the map to make the 33rd more Democratic, and Johnson ran after being drawn out of her prior district.[2] The contest drew factional endorsements, with Crockett campaigning with Allred while Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and House leaders backed Johnson.[2] Allred accused Talarico of calling him a 'mediocre Black man,' a charge Talarico denied.[2] The runoff also featured sharp attacks over Johnson's past stock trades and Allred's immigration and ICE voting record.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Colin Allred won the Democratic primary runoff for Texas's 33rd Congressional District on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, defeating Rep. Julie Johnson (Colin Allred).
- On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the Associated Press called the Democratic primary runoff for Allred over Johnson in a newly redrawn Dallas-based U.S. House district that Republicans made more heavily Democratic (newly redrawn Dallas-based U.S. House district).
- Allred had vacated the seat to run against Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, briefly launched a 2026 Senate campaign, then suspended that bid and reentered the House race in late 2025 (reentered the House race).
- In the March 3, 2026 primary, Allred finished first with nearly 44% of the vote to Johnson's more than 33%, giving him an roughly 11-point lead but leaving him short of the 50% threshold and forcing the May 26 runoff (March 3, 2026 primary).
- Fox News and other reports said Allred likely benefited from higher name recognition from prior statewide runs and a significant fundraising advantage heading into the runoff (fundraising advantage).
- Factional endorsements played a role: Rep. Jasmine Crockett endorsed and campaigned with Allred, while Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and House Democratic leadership backed Johnson (Rep. Jasmine Crockett).
- The race featured intra-party disputes and sharp campaign attacks — Allred accused James Talarico of calling him a 'mediocre Black man' (which Talarico denied), and the runoff included clashes over Johnson's past stock trades and Allred's immigration and ICE voting record (James Talarico).
- Rep. Marc Veasey, the incumbent in the reconfigured district, chose not to seek reelection, which opened the seat and prompted Johnson to run after Republicans effectively drew her out of her prior district (Rep. Marc Veasey).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- PBS reports on May 27, 2026, that Colin Allred won the Democratic primary for Texas' 33rd Congressional District on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
- The article notes Allred had been running for Senate again in this cycle but dropped that bid the same day Rep. Jasmine Crockett announced she was running for Senate, then declared he would run again for his old House seat.
- PBS states Allred defeated Rep. Julie Johnson, who had replaced him in the House after he left to run for Senate in 2024.
- CBS News projects on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, that former Rep. Colin Allred won the Democratic runoff for Texas's 33rd Congressional District in Dallas County, defeating Rep. Julie Johnson.
- In the March 3, 2026 primary, Allred finished first with nearly 44% of the vote and Johnson second with more than 33%, forcing the May 26 runoff because neither exceeded 50%.
- The article notes specific runoff campaign attacks, including Allred criticizing Johnson's past stock trades and Johnson attacking Allred's immigration and ICE voting record, and says Allred will face the Republican nominee in November.
- On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the Associated Press called the Democratic primary runoff for former Rep. Colin Allred over Rep. Julie Johnson in a newly redrawn Dallas-based U.S. House district that Republicans made more heavily Democratic.
- Rep. Marc Veasey, the incumbent in the reconfigured district, chose not to seek reelection, opening the seat and prompting Johnson to run after Republicans effectively drew her out of her prior district.
- Allred previously vacated the seat to run unsuccessfully against Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, briefly launched a 2026 Senate campaign, then reentered the House race in late 2025 after suspending his Senate bid.
- The article details factional endorsements: Rep. Jasmine Crockett endorsed Allred in April 2026 and campaigned with him, while Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and House Democratic leadership backed Johnson.
- The piece recounts an intra-party dispute in which Allred accused Talarico of privately calling him a "mediocre Black man" during a phone call with a party activist, a characterization Talarico denied, saying he was criticizing Allred's campaign style, not his race.
- Fox News notes Allred likely benefited from higher name recognition from prior statewide runs and a significant fundraising advantage and that he led the March 3 primary by 11 points but forced a runoff by failing to exceed 50 percent.