Texas Democrats Johnson and Allred Head to Runoff in 33rd District Primary
WASHINGTON ― In a closely watched primary election, Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas) and Democratic congressional candidate Colin Allred are advancing to a runoff after neither candidate managed to secure more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday night's contest. The runoff is scheduled for May 26, where they will compete exclusively to become the Democratic nominee for Texas' newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District.
Primary Results and Background
Allred held a strong lead throughout the race, but his support was diluted by two other Democratic contenders, preventing him from achieving an outright victory. Johnson, who currently represents the 32nd Congressional District in the Dallas area, and Allred, who entered this race in December after dropping a Senate bid, are now set for a head-to-head showdown. The district was recently redrawn by Republicans as part of partisan redistricting efforts, adding a layer of political intrigue to the competition.
Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas), the current representative of this district, is not seeking reelection because the new map no longer includes a portion of Fort Worth where he resides. Given that the seat is solidly Democratic, the winner of the runoff is almost certain to prevail in the general election this November, making this a critical contest for the party's future in Texas.
Contentious Campaign Dynamics
The primary has been marked by tension and sharp exchanges between the candidates. Allred previously endorsed Johnson in 2024 when she ran for the House seat he vacated to pursue a Senate campaign. However, their relationship soured after Allred abruptly decided to run against her this time around, leading to combative campaigns.
Johnson has criticized Allred for his vote in support of President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies, accusing him of being "out for himself" and labeling his House bid as "a consolation prize" after his failed Senate campaign. Allred had been running to challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) but withdrew when polls showed him trailing other Democratic contenders like Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico.
On her campaign website, Johnson asserts, "Allred embodies the worst about today's politics of ambition." In response, Allred has attacked Johnson for trading stocks from Palantir, a company that collaborates with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His campaign website claims, "Voters can't trust Julie Johnson to fight Donald Trump and ICE; they make her too much money." Johnson countered this by stating that she only made $90 from those trades.
Financial and Name Recognition Advantages
Allred entered the race with greater name recognition and a significant financial edge. According to Federal Election Commission filings as of February 11, Allred raised more than $5.4 million and had approximately $858,000 cash on hand. In comparison, Johnson raised over $1.5 million and had about $550,000 cash on hand. This disparity in resources could play a pivotal role in the runoff campaign as both candidates ramp up their efforts to secure voter support.
The outcome of this runoff will not only determine the Democratic nominee but also shape the political landscape in Texas, highlighting the intense internal party dynamics and strategic maneuvering ahead of the general election.
