U.S. Representative Colin Allred from Dallas is set to speak at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, where he will express his support for Vice President Kamala Harris, according to his campaign. Allred is challenging Republican Senator Ted Cruz in what is considered one of the top targets for Senate Democrats this election cycle.
Throughout his campaign, Allred has maintained a strategic distance from national Democrats, concentrating on Texas-related issues instead of directly aligning himself with the presidential ticket. In his recent address to the Texas delegation, he focused on criticizing Cruz and did not mention Harris. Allred emphasized that his campaign aims to reflect his intended governance, prioritizing the needs of Texas residents.
At the convention, Allred will join other House Democrats engaged in competitive Senate races, including Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and Ruben Gallego from Arizona. These states are viewed as generally more competitive than Texas. Allred will speak just before Harris addresses the convention.
Additionally, U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar from El Paso will chair the convention on Thursday, with Kim Mata-Rubio, who lost her daughter in the Robb Elementary School shooting, also scheduled to speak.
Allred’s relationship with Harris’s campaign seems to carry mixed implications. While her historic candidacy could galvanize Democratic voters and assist candidates like him, Allred has been cautious about openly supporting her. He has made it a point to avoid appearing too aligned with her, especially to attract independent voters within the predominantly red state.
He did not attend any of Harris’s campaign events in Texas last month and has not issued an official endorsement but has indicated support through his campaign communications. In a recent interview, Allred acknowledged that some of the voters he aims to attract may not favor Harris, noting his differences from her more progressive stance.
A poll from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs released on Thursday revealed that Allred is trailing Cruz by two points, a closer race than Cruz’s nearly three-point victory over Beto O’Rourke in the 2018 election.
The Harris campaign has not classified Texas as a battleground state and does not plan significant investment there, instead prioritizing more competitive areas. Allred has expressed no concern regarding the national campaign’s lack of focus on Texas, explaining that his strategy was developed independently of anticipated resources from the presidential campaign. Texas Democrats recently initiated a coordinated campaign for statewide candidates, a move not seen in decades.
Allred reiterated the importance of the upcoming election for Texas, stating that the focus remains on who will serve the state for the next six years.