AUSTIN, Texas — UPDATE: Congressman Colin Allred is officially Texas Democrats’ nominee for U.S. Senate.
The original story continues below:
One of the most watched races of the Texas primary election is the Democratic race for U.S. Senate.
Nine candidates are vying for the chance to secure the Democratic nomination and face likely Republican candidate and incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in November.
In the lead on Election Day is Congressman Colin Allred, who represents Dallas. Allred has raised the most money of the Democratic candidates and consistently polls the highest among them.
Allred is a fourth-generation Texan, born and raised in Dallas. He played football for Baylor University before several years in the NFL, playing for the Tennessee Titans. After a career-ending injury, he became a civil rights attorney and eventually worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development before running for and getting elected to Congress in 2018. He won reelection in 2020 and won again in 2022.
Another Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate with significant name recognition is State Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio. Gutierrez is known for his outspokenness following the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a city he represents.
Gutierrez describes himself as the son of Mexican immigrants who has “spent his whole life fighting to create real change for communities across Texas.” He has previously served on the San Antonio City Council and as a state representative in the Texas Legislature before moving to the upper chamber.
In addition to Allred and Gutierrez, seven other candidates are also hoping to face Ted Cruz in November.
Meri Gomez is a tax consultant and small business owner from the Rio Grande Valley, and Mark Gonzales is a Corpus Christi attorney. State Rep. Carl Sherman is a pastor who represents DeSoto, and Heli Rodriguez Prilliman is a Fort Worth tech entrepreneur. Steven J. Keough is a retired U.S. Navy captain who teaches law at a Catholic university in San Antonio, and Tierry Tchenko is an organizer and nonprofit executive from Houston. A. “Robert” Hassan is a businessman.