Former Texas Rep. Colin Allred ended his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign today, saying he will return to Congress next year instead, as Rep. Jasmine Crockett prepares to announce her expected bid for the Senate seat that has long eluded Democrats.

Allred, a Dallas native and former three-term member of Congress, was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024, losing to Sen. Ted Cruz. He launched another statewide run in July, aiming to challenge Republican Sen. John Cornyn in 2026. But the Democratic primary field became increasingly crowded after state Rep. James Talarico of Austin entered the race in September, followed by Crockett’s anticipated Senate announcement today.

In a statement, Allred said he wanted to avoid a contentious Senate primary and would instead run for Congress in the newly drawn 33rd District. The redistricting came after the U.S. Supreme Court last week allowed Texas to use a new GOP-friendly map. His decision comes just hours before the filing deadline for the March primary.

While Allred faced criticism during his 2024 statewide run for insufficient engagement with Black and Brown communities, observers noted that his 2026 Senate campaign had taken a more robust grassroots approach, with increased outreach to voters of color. His pivot returns him to a district he previously represented, reshaping both the Senate primary and the political landscape in North Texas.