Julie Johnson, Colin Allred advance to runoff in Texas' 33rd Congressional District Democratic primary

The race has drawn attention across Dallas County, as voters weighed Allred's local ties and congressional experience against Johnson's legislative record in the Texas House and her time representing North Texas in Congress.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Voters in Texas' 33rd Congressional District will decide the Democratic nominee in a runoff after Rep. Julie Johnson and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred finished as the top two vote-getters in Tuesday's primary, preventing either candidate from clearing the majority needed to secure the nomination outright. The race has drawn attention across Dallas County, as voters weighed Allred's local ties and congressional experience against Johnson's legislative record in the Texas House and her time representing North Texas in Congress.

Why it matters

Texas' 33rd District is considered a safely Democratic seat, meaning the winner of the runoff is expected to be strongly favored in the November general election. The race has drawn attention as voters decide between Allred's experience and Johnson's legislative record.

The details

With no candidate surpassing 50% of the vote, Johnson and Allred now advance to a May runoff election that will determine who carries the Democratic banner into November in the heavily Democratic North Texas district. Allred campaigned on his roots in North Texas and his record securing federal funding, presenting himself as an experienced problem-solver while also criticizing corporate influence in politics. Johnson emphasized her legislative record on issues such as health care, housing, immigration and government accountability, while also defending her financial transparency amid scrutiny during the campaign.

  • The primary election was held on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • The runoff election is scheduled for May 2026.

The players

Julie Johnson

A Texas state representative who is running for the Democratic nomination in the 33rd Congressional District.

Colin Allred

A former U.S. Representative who is running for the Democratic nomination in the 33rd Congressional District.

Carlos Quintanilla

A Democratic candidate who centered his campaign on community activism and immigrant support, calling for systemic reforms and expanded services.

Zeeshan Hafeez

A Democratic candidate who ran on a sweeping progressive agenda that included Medicare for All, higher wages, expanded affordable housing and the abolition of ICE.

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What’s next

The runoff election between Julie Johnson and Colin Allred is scheduled for May 2026.

The takeaway

The race in Texas' 33rd Congressional District Democratic primary has drawn attention as voters weigh the experience and legislative records of the top two candidates, Julie Johnson and Colin Allred, who will face off in a runoff election to determine the party's nominee for the heavily Democratic district.