Former Texas congressman Colin Allred spoke at the University on Monday, discussing the state of American politics and his upcoming bid for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
“We can’t continue to have elected officials who will only put the party or one person above the whole 30 million of us,” Allred said. “So I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. I genuinely believe that we have an opportunity to win here.”
Allred, who represented the 32nd District in Congress from 2019 to 2025, lost his 2024 Senate race to Ted Cruz by about 8.5 points. In July, he launched a second campaign for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn, with a focus on anti-corruption and affordability for Texans.
“What he’s most passionate about is making sure his communities are served on both sides,” said Paige Durrenberger, an economics junior who attended the talk. “He wants the best for Texans and not just his Democrat constituents.”
Allred also addressed the Texas legislature’s current redistricting efforts, calling out what he described as “a race to the bottom.” Both chambers have passed a new congressional district map that would add five more Republican seats to the U.S. Congress, solidifying a Republican majority. He criticized the Supreme Court for not outlawing gerrymandering, which he said contributed to Congressional dysfunction and diminished voting power for Black and brown communities.
“This is not redistricting,” Allred said. “Redistricting is done every decade; this is a mid-decade rigging of elections.”
The conversation also highlighted the tension between national politics and state-level priorities, with Allred emphasizing what he described as the abandonment of principles by Sen. Cornyn.
“I don’t know that John Cornyn and the president are any different,” Allred said. “Thirty years of a career of public life, and now all you are is just the number one follower in Texas? What happened to us being the most independent, outspoken folks on the planet?”
Graduate student Peyton Daniels attended the talk and echoed this concern, emphasizing the need for state politics to prioritize Texans’ interests.
“I truly wish that state politics were about the Texans and for the Texans, I think it’s a great time to get back to serving Texans, and there’s a lot of great work that we can do,” Daniels said.
Allred said income inequality has left many Texans vulnerable in the face of systemic challenges.
“What I want to do, as much as I possibly can, is try and speak directly to issues that I know are affecting not only you, but all of us,” Allred said.
