Former Rep. Colin Allred has defeated Rep. Julie Johnson in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 33rd Congressional District, held on May 26. Allred will now face Republican Patrick Gillespie in the November general election. The district, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is heavily Democratic and is expected to remain in Democratic hands.
Allred secured 44% of the vote in the initial March 3 primary, while Johnson received 33%, necessitating a runoff. The race was contentious, with both candidates critiquing each other’s records. Allred highlighted his experience as a former NFL player, attorney, and Obama administration official, while Johnson emphasized her role as the first openly LGBTQ+ representative elected in a Southern state.
The district was redrawn in 2023 by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature, leading to a reshuffling of political boundaries. Allred initially ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024 but dropped out to support Rep. Jasmine Crockett. He then decided to run for the House seat after redistricting. Johnson, who succeeded Allred in Congress, faced criticism for her past stock holdings in Palantir, a company with ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Allred, meanwhile, faced scrutiny over his past vote in favor of a Trump-backed immigration detention law, though he has since called for abolishing ICE.
The general election in November will determine whether Allred returns to Congress, representing a district that has been solidly Democratic in recent elections.