The political arena in Texas is once again resounding with Colin Allred’s footsteps who, despite a previous defeat to Ted Cruz, is daring to once more vie for a Senate seat. A part of the blue troupe and formerly a U.S. representative from 2019 to 2025, Allred has voiced his ambitions to participate in his party’s primary, potentially unseating the long-standing Republican Senator John Cornyn—if chosen, that is. The echoes of his failed attempt to bring change to the Texas Senate are still fresh, yet it seems Allred doesn’t tire from chasing hopeful mirages.
Allred—once in the limelight for his NFL career and perceived role as a civil rights attorney—will try to use his familiarity to his advantage. Despite his loss to Cruz (a figure that has been a Senator since 2013), he continues to emphasize a marginal boost he had over Kamala Harris in the presidential race, clinging to his self-styled image as a Texan champion. His unlikely sources of hope also include the prospect of a potentially damaging Republican primary between Senator Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, yet only time will reveal if these are anything more than wishful thinking.
During his campaign trail, at a crowded community center in Houston, Allred declared his sole motivation— ‘not giving up’. A commendable tenacity, one might say, until realizing how much it aligns with a Senator’s desire to retain political relevance and hold power. Even as an apparently enthusiastic crowd cheered him on, one could wonder how much substance lies behind the applause.
When asked about what he proposes to alter the three-decade-long absence of Democratic dominance in Texas, Allred responded primarily with a heartfelt narration of his background. His claim of understanding struggle and being an advocate for the ‘hardworking people’ sounds engaging but lacks any detailed policy proposal to back it up. Tugging at emotional strings gives a persuasive touch, but questions linger on whether it truly resonates or just resonates with empty promises.
His insistence on anti-corruption forms the pillar of his campaign rhetoric. He talks about the negative impacts of Trump’s tax law and drifts into generic statements on the need for public support. While the contentions are not entirely without merit, they sound more like an echo of standard Democratic talking points than a sincere call for reform.
Allred’s solution to the cost of living crisis in Texas revolves around criticizing the existing policies rather than proposing new ones. A recipe of opposing the Senate-approved bill, promoting an income-based augment of supply in housing, and holding people accountable for price gouging are his go-to responses. Yet the ideas he presents are high-level and abstract, making his true path to implementation vague at best.
Talking about firearms, Allred harps on the obvious need to mitigate the pervasive violence in society—again without presenting a clear strategy. Despite acknowledging his upbringing around guns, he frames the issue as a result of a ‘corrupt system’. The problem is, he never really states what this corruption is or how he plans to address it.
Touting his identity as a Black candidate and father, Allred uses his position to represent Texas’s diversity. However, while his potential ascent might be personally inspiring, it does not necessarily correlate to an ability to rule. Optimistic lip service about ‘ladders of opportunity’ feels good but doesn’t necessarily bring about measurable change.
Allred expresses concern on the fraught immigration issue and calls for comprehensive reform—an echo of ideas already circulating in Washington. He emphasizes the treatment of people and the need for border security, but his words feel shallow. They fail to reflect the complexity of the real-life struggles that Texas and the United States grapple with on this issue.
The recent floods in Texas were another subject where Allred’s plans seemed like a facsimile of previous rhetoric. He calls for overlapping systems of notification and adequate staffing positions, yet these are not groundbreaking ideas, rather they’d be found on any sensible crisis management plan.
At the end of the day, Allred seems like more of the same from the Democratic side. His ideals may appeal to some, but the lack of substance within his platform raises questions. As a potential Senator, would he bring the innovative and actionable solutions needed—or just more talk?