Colin Allred Considers 2026 Senate Campaign
On a night when he urged a group of erstwhile Republicans to stay in the fight, former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred said he’s “seriously considering” a 2026 Senate campaign against incumbent John Cornyn, or the winner of what’s expected to be a bruising GOP primary.
Allred appeared at an event sponsored by Principles First, a group of conservatives opposed to President Donald Trump. It was his first public appearance since his loss to Republican Ted Cruz.
Colin Allred became a standard bearer for the Texas Democratic Party when he ran for Senate in 2024. His decisions about what to do in future elections will have an impact on Texas’ political future.
Future Plans
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News before the event, Allred lamented his loss to Cruz, briefly discussed his political future and delighted in the time he’s spending with his young family. It was his first public interview since his Senate defeat.
The Dallas Democrat said he would make a decision on another Senate run this summer.
“I’m looking at it and seriously considering it,” Allred said. “This is a time for everybody to realize just what’s at stake and how important it is that we all stay involved.”
Republican Primary
Cornyn released a video Wednesday launching his Senate campaign in what’s expected to be an explosive Republican primary. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is in the exploratory stage of a potential Senate campaign against Cornyn. Other Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Beth Van Duyne of Irving and Wesley Hunt of Houston, have been mentioned as potential GOP Senate candidates.
Texas Republican Party Chairman Abraham George, who lives in Plano, said the 2026 Republican Senate nominee would beat Allred or any other Democrat.
“I don’t think we have anything to worry about,” George said. “I mean Allred had a really bad loss to Ted Cruz.”
Former Senate candidate Colin Allred speaks at a Q&A session hosted by Principles First at the Arts District Mansion in Dallas, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.(Liz Rymarev / Staff Photographer)
Deliberations and Future Plans
Allred didn’t offer more details about his deliberations to The News or during his comments at the Principles First forum.
After retreating from public view in November, Allred has had a series of coffees with donors and activists who supported his Senate campaign. His name has been mentioned as a possible 2027 Dallas mayoral candidate. Allred shrugged off — but didn’t rule out — that prospect.
“Right now I’m just hanging with my family,” Allred said.
While Allred said his life was largely consumed by playing the video game Minecraft with his two young sons, he called on Democrats, Republicans and independents to resist Trump’s policies and offer alternative plans.
Criticism of Trump Administration
A three-term congressman, Allred ran for Senate touting bipartisanship. His supporters included former U.S. Republican Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
Allred said he agreed to speak to Principles First because of its mission to get Americans to focus on issues and principles. Established in 2019 as a landing spot for disaffected Republicans, the organization serves as an alternative to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
The hometown crowd warmly received Allred as he sat for a discussion centered largely on foreign policy with Heath Mayo, the group’s founder.
“This is my first time doing anything since the campaign, like in front of people, and I didn’t want to do it with some partisan group,” Allred said. “I wanted to do something like this.”
Allred asked the crowd at the Arts District Mansion not to give up on politics.
“I’m encouraging people to get out of your defensive crouch, get off the doomscrolling and do something in your community,” Allred said. “I guarantee you’ll feel better.”
Throughout the hour-long conversation, Allred criticized Trump administration policies.
“Folks elected Donald Trump so they could buy groceries, not Greenland,” Allred said.
Allred also criticized some of Trump’s cabinet picks, saying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “couldn’t manage a hot dog stand” and that there were concerns that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was a “Russian plant.”
Former Senate candidate Colin Allred poses for a portrait at the Arts District Mansion in Dallas, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.(Liz Rymarev / Staff Photographer)
