Colin Allred

Colin Allred
Born	Colin Zachary Allred 15 4, 1983
Birthplace	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, civil rights lawyer, former professional football player
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 32nd congressional district (2019–2025)
Education	Baylor University (BA) University of California, Berkeley (JD)
Children	2
Website	[colinallred.com Official site]

Colin Zachary Allred (born April 15, 1983) is an American politician, civil rights lawyer, and former professional football player who represented Texas's 32nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Allred first gained national attention in 2018 when he defeated 11-term Republican incumbent Pete Sessions in a district that encompassed the northeastern corner of Dallas and many of its northeastern suburbs. Before entering politics, Allred played as a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL) and later worked as an attorney at Perkins Coie and in the Obama administration, serving at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. After serving three terms in Congress, Allred chose not to seek re-election in 2024, instead challenging Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in the 2024 United States Senate election. Though he lost to Cruz, Allred outperformed the Democratic presidential ticket in Texas by 5.5 percentage points. In December 2025, Allred announced he would run for the newly drawn 33rd congressional district based in Dallas.

Early Life

Colin Zachary Allred was born on April 15, 1983, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in North Dallas and attended Hillcrest High School, where he developed as a football player. Allred was raised by his mother, a Dallas public school teacher, in what he has described as a working-class household. His experiences growing up in Dallas shaped his later interest in public service and civil rights law.

Allred's athletic talent became evident during his high school years, and he went on to play college football at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. At Baylor, Allred played linebacker for the Baylor Bears and developed into a prospect for professional football. His time at Baylor also provided him with a foundation in academics; he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the university.

Education

Allred earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University. After his NFL career ended, he chose to pursue law and enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor (JD). His decision to attend law school was motivated by a desire to transition from professional athletics into a career focused on civil rights and public service. At Berkeley, Allred studied civil rights law and developed an interest in housing policy and voting rights, topics that would later define both his legal career and his political platform.

Career

Professional Football

After graduating from Baylor, Allred entered the National Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He signed with the Tennessee Titans, where he played as a linebacker wearing number 56. Standing 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 242 pounds, Allred spent four seasons with the Titans. During his NFL career, he recorded 46 total tackles. Allred was eventually released by the Titans, and rather than pursuing opportunities with other teams, he chose to leave professional football and redirect his career toward the legal profession.

Legal Career and Obama Administration

After earning his JD from the University of California, Berkeley, Allred began his legal career at the law firm Perkins Coie, where he worked as an attorney focusing on civil rights issues.

Allred subsequently joined the Obama administration, where he held multiple positions in the federal government. He first served at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, working on housing policy issues. He later moved to the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, where he continued his work in civil rights and public policy. These roles provided Allred with experience in federal governance and policy implementation that he would later draw upon during his congressional campaigns and tenure.

2018 Congressional Campaign

In April 2017, Allred announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Texas's 32nd congressional district, challenging 11-term Republican incumbent Pete Sessions. Allred's campaign drew on his biography as a former NFL player, civil rights attorney, and Obama administration official, positioning him as a candidate who could appeal to the increasingly diverse and suburban electorate in the district.

In the Democratic primary on May 22, 2018, Allred advanced to a runoff election against Lillian Salerno. Allred won the runoff decisively, securing the Democratic nomination for the general election.

In the November 2018 general election, Allred defeated Sessions, ending the Republican's two-decade hold on the seat. The victory was part of a broader wave of Democratic gains in suburban districts across the United States during the 2018 midterm elections. Following his election, Allred was chosen by his fellow incoming Democratic members as the freshman class co-president of the New Democrat Coalition.

U.S. House of Representatives (2019–2025)

Allred took office on January 3, 2019, representing the 32nd congressional district of Texas. The district encompassed the northeastern portion of Dallas and many of its northeastern suburban communities.

During his time in Congress, Allred was re-elected in both 2020 and 2022, serving a total of three terms. He was affiliated with the New Democrat Coalition, a caucus of moderate and center-left Democrats within the House.

Allred's congressional tenure included engagement with issues related to civil rights, housing, and gun violence. In May 2023, he publicly addressed the mass shooting in Allen, Texas, which occurred in his region of the state.

2024 Senate Campaign

Rather than seeking a fourth term in the House, Allred chose to challenge Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in the 2024 United States Senate election in Texas. The race attracted national attention as one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the 2024 cycle. Allred ran on his record as a congressman, his background as a former NFL player and civil rights attorney, and positions on issues such as healthcare, reproductive rights, and voting access.

Allred was ultimately defeated by Cruz in the November 2024 general election. However, Allred outperformed the Democratic presidential ticket in the concurrent presidential election in Texas by 5.5 percentage points, a margin that analysts noted as significant in a state that has leaned Republican in statewide elections for decades.

His departure from the House meant that Texas's 32nd congressional district passed to his successor, Julie Johnson, who took office in January 2025.

2025–2026: Return to Congressional Candidacy

In July 2025, Allred announced that he would challenge Republican incumbent John Cornyn in the 2026 United States Senate election. However, in December 2025, Allred withdrew from the Senate race and announced he would instead run for the newly drawn Texas's 33rd congressional district, a Dallas-based seat created through redistricting. His decision to pivot from the Senate race to a House campaign was reported as a significant development in Texas Democratic politics.

The decision came shortly before U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett entered the Democratic primary for the Senate seat. Allred subsequently endorsed Crockett in the Democratic Senate primary, publicly voicing his support for her candidacy over that of fellow Democrat James Talarico.

In early 2026, a dispute emerged involving allegations that Talarico had made racially charged remarks about Allred. An influencer reported that Talarico had referred to Allred as a "mediocre Black man," a characterization that Talarico denied. Allred publicly called on Talarico to apologize for the alleged remark. The incident drew significant media coverage and became a focal point of the Democratic primary contest in Texas.

Allred's campaign for the 33rd congressional district placed him in a competitive Democratic primary. His entry into the race was shaped both by redistricting, which created the new Dallas-area seat, and by his decision to leave the Senate race. The race also positioned Allred in potential competition with Julie Johnson, who had succeeded him in the House representing the 32nd district and was also connected to the new 33rd district.

Personal Life

Colin Allred was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and has maintained his ties to the city throughout his career. He has two children. Allred has spoken publicly about his upbringing in a single-parent household and the influence of his mother, a public school teacher, on his values and career path.

Allred's transition from professional football to law and then to politics has been a recurring theme in media profiles. He has discussed the physical toll of his NFL career and his motivation to pursue a second career in public service after leaving the sport.

Recognition

Allred's 2018 victory over Pete Sessions was one of the most notable Democratic gains in the 2018 midterm elections, particularly in Texas, where the result signaled shifting political dynamics in suburban districts that had long been considered Republican strongholds. His election as freshman class co-president of the New Democrat Coalition was an early sign of his standing among incoming Democratic members of Congress.

During the 2024 Senate race, Allred's performance against Ted Cruz—outrunning the Democratic presidential ticket in Texas by 5.5 percentage points—was noted by political analysts as a significant achievement for a Democratic candidate in a state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since the 1990s.

Allred's unusual career trajectory—from NFL linebacker to civil rights lawyer to congressman—has been the subject of extensive media coverage, with outlets such as Above the Law, The Dallas Morning News, CNBC, and The Texas Tribune profiling his path from professional sports to public service.