Democrat Colin Allred has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2026, marking his second attempt to capture a seat in the upper chamber. After falling short in his high-profile challenge to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz last year, the former Dallas congressman is setting his sights on the seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn, and the political dynamics this time may be very different.
In his launch video, Allred focused on economic frustrations and political accountability, casting himself as a public servant grounded in integrity and driven by a desire to fight for working Texans. “Politicians like John Cornyn and Ken Paxton are too corrupt to care and too weak to fight for us,” he said, taking aim at two leading Texas Republicans, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
While Cornyn is the incumbent, his path to reelection may be complicated by a primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton, who remains politically potent among conservatives despite ongoing legal troubles. For Texas Democrats, the possibility of facing Paxton in a general election presents a rare opportunity to gain ground in a state that has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994.
Allred’s entry into the race positions him as the early Democratic frontrunner. Other prominent names, including Beto O’Rourke, Joaquin Castro, and James Talarico, have signaled interest, but none have officially entered the race. Allred’s advantages include strong name recognition, national fundraising connections, and a polling edge over several potential candidates. A May survey from Texas Southern University showed Allred with a 45% favorability rating, the highest among six possible Democratic contenders, and a narrow 2-point deficit in a hypothetical matchup against Paxton.
With more than a dozen statewide offices up for grabs, including governor and lieutenant governor, Democrats are aiming to build a coordinated, fully funded slate of candidates to energize turnout. Allred’s candidacy may serve as a centerpiece of that effort, particularly if he can avoid a bruising intraparty fight.
In his announcement, Allred highlighted his background as the son of a single mother, his early career in the Obama administration, and his record in Congress, where he emphasized bipartisanship and ethics. “In six years in Congress, I never took a dime of corporate PAC money, never traded a single stock. Never had a hint of scandal,” he said. His campaign’s first policy rollout, he added, will focus on anti-corruption.
