Former congressman Colin Allred’s last-minute pivot from a Senate race to challenge incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson has set up what might be the most contentious Democratic primary in Texas. The battle for the newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District has quickly become a clash of established Democratic politicians trading barbs over their records and motivations.
The March 3, 2026, primary features four candidates, but Johnson and Allred have emerged as the clear frontrunners, dominating fundraising, endorsements, and media attention. Johnson, who currently represents the 32nd district, didn’t mince words about her opponent’s electoral history. “Allred was soundly rejected by the voters in the last election cycle, and he’s been soundly rejected this cycle,” she stated. “And I think he needs to take some introspection and look at why he couldn’t poll more favorably.”
Political Musical Chairs
The race represents a strange political shuffle. Johnson was elected to Texas’ 32nd congressional district in 2024, replacing Allred who vacated that seat to run for U.S. Senate. Now, both are competing for the newly redrawn 33rd district in what has become an unexpected rematch of sorts.
Allred’s decision to enter the race came with its own drama. He withdrew from the U.S. Senate race just hours before the filing deadline following Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s entry into that contest, telling CNN it was the “best for the state and the party,” according to KUT. He promptly announced his candidacy for the 33rd district, creating an immediate challenge for Johnson.
“What I’ve always tried to do is serve in a way that has integrity and shows that I’m going to put the folks that I am serving first,” Allred said in a recent interview. “That’s why I never took a dime of corporate PAC money.”
Johnson has countered by highlighting their respective records. “The thing that’s interesting about both of us is we both have records to be measured by, and I think that record is certainly up for discussion,” she remarked during a Zoom interview.
A District in Transition
The stakes are high for this diverse district. The newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District encompasses approximately half of Dallas, including downtown, and stretches from Grand Prairie to Reinhardt with parts of Oak Cliff. It boasts a racially diverse eligible voting population—roughly 38% Hispanic, 35% white, and 20% Black, according to the Tribune.
Who’s backing whom? Johnson appears to have secured substantial institutional support. Nearly 50 House Democrats, including top House Democratic leadership, have endorsed her candidacy, Punchbowl reports. The show of force suggests the Democratic establishment is rallying behind the incumbent despite Allred’s previous prominence.
Yet the race remains fluid. Zeeshan Hafeez and Carlos Quintanilla are also running in the Democratic primary, though they’ve received considerably less attention than the two frontrunners. Their presence could potentially split votes in what many observers expect to be a tight contest between Johnson and Allred.
How did we get here? Crockett’s surprise Senate bid created a domino effect, with Allred exiting that race and immediately jumping into the congressional contest against Johnson. The sudden move was documented by local media and caught many political observers off guard.
With the primary still weeks away, voters in this newly configured district face a choice between two established Democratic representatives with overlapping political territories and distinct approaches to representation. It’s a race that highlights how redistricting and political ambitions can create unexpected intra-party battles—even among colleagues who once succeeded one another.
