Full Breakdown
Colin Allred Defeats Julie Johnson in Texas Democratic Runoff for Redrawn 33rd District
5/27/2026, 8:38:58 AM
Runoff Result
On May 26, 2026, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred won the Democratic nomination for Texas’s 33rd congressional district, defeating incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson. The Associated Press called the race when Allred held roughly 55 % to Johnson’s 45 %. Allred celebrated at an election-night party in Old East Dallas, addressing supporters and reiterating his platform on system reform and federal accountability.
Redistricting and Timeline
Redistricting reshaped the 33rd and made the 32nd more Republican. Incumbent Rep. Marc Veasey did not run, prompting Julie Johnson—who won the 32nd in 2024—to move to Democratic 33rd. Allred, 32nd representative, re-entered after dropping a Senate bid in July 2025. March 3 left Allred ahead (44 % to 33 %); May 26 gave him about 55 % versus Johnson’s 45 %.
Candidates
Colin Allred, former NFL player and HUD official, unseated Rep. Pete Sessions in 2018 and served the 32nd (2019-2025). He left to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, ran for Senate in 2025, then filed for the 33rd. Julie Johnson, a Farmers Branch Democrat, succeeded Allred in the 32nd in 2024 and moved to the 33rd after redistricting.
Vote Totals
The March 3 vote left Allred ahead (44 % to 33 %); the May 26 runoff gave him about 55 % versus Johnson’s 45 %. NBC projected the win without exact percentages; the AP reported a 55-45 split.
Immigration, Technology Funding and Impact
Immigration dominated the campaign. Allred, who voted for the 2024 Laken Riley Act—a Trump-backed detention measure—now calls for abolishing ICE and moving its duties to the FBI and DEA. Johnson faced criticism for Palantir stock, which she sold in March 2025 via an independent manager. Allred received nearly $400,000 from Jobs and Democracy PAC, an AI-focused super-PAC.
Official Statements
Allred told supporters the system is unfair and feels “rigged,” pledging hearings, investigations and accountability, and promising to monitor enforcement in Texas. Johnson said her Palantir shares were divested after she took office via an independent manager.
Criticism
Allred was attacked for his 2024 vote for the Laken Riley Act, detaining immigrants. Johnson called Allred a “flip-flopper” on immigration, noting his shift from supporting detention to urging ICE abolition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I can't tell folks now that this system is fair to them. I can’t tell them that,” — Colin Allred
- “If you feel like it's rigged, that's because it has been.” — Colin Allred
- “I want to see hearings, I want to see investigations, I want to see us hold them accountable,” — Colin Allred
- “flip-flopper” — Julie Johnson
What’s Next
Allred will face UPS executive Patrick David Gillespie, who won the GOP runoff, in the November general election for the 33rd District, a seat that voted for President Kamala Harris in 2024.
