Former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) is running it back.
Allred, a former NFL linebacker who served three terms in Congress, is launching a Senate bid against Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) just eight months after losing to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
But 2026 is a different cycle. It’s another midterm under President Donald Trump. And Cornyn is locked in a battle for his political life with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a far-right firebrand who is beloved by the base of the GOP.
Allred’s launch video notably mentions both Cornyn and Paxton. It heavily features his time in the NFL and notes that it took him multiple tryouts to get onto a team — a subtle homage to his second attempt at the Senate.
“At heart, I’m still that undrafted kid, fighting for what’s right. I’m still that guy showering after work instead of before,” Allred says in the video.
Private Republican polling has indicated Paxton is a worse general-election candidate than Cornyn — and some surveys have even shown Allred beating Paxton.
Democrats have repeatedly claimed each election cycle is the one where Texas will turn blue. There are certainly reasons to be skeptical this time, but several factors are converging in their favor.
The 2026 Senate map is small. Democrats will have to put red Senate seats in play to put themselves in a position to win a majority in 2028.
One note of caution for Democrats: A primary is brewing. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), state Rep. James Talarico and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) are also considering runs. The three of them and Allred had a virtual meeting to discuss 2026, the Dallas Morning News reported, and all wanted to run for Senate.
But Allred is the first to get in. It’s not clear whether any of the others would be willing to actually challenge him in a primary. Former astronaut Terry Virts is already running but lacks the statewide stature of the other names.
Senate Fundraising. Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow raised more than $2.1 million for her U.S. Senate race in Q2, according to her campaign.
McMorrow brought in donations from more than 28,000 individual donors. Her campaign says she is not taking any corporate PAC money.
McMorrow is competing against several candidates in a crowded Democratic Senate primary to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and former Michigan public health official Abdul El-Sayed are other contenders in the race.
McMorrow went viral for a fiery floor speech in 2022 that attacked Republicans on a series of issues, including LGBTQ rights. She has since cultivated a strong online following.
