Following Democratic Primary results that sent her into a runoff with former Congressman Colin Allred to determine the Democratic nominee in Texas House District 33, Congresswoman Julie Johnson, the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to the U.S. House from a Southern state, issued a statement pledging to “keep showing up, keep doing the work and take this campaign all the way to the finish line.”
Johnson said, “I’m grateful to every voter, volunteer and supporter who showed up and put int the work. Some people thought this race would be decided outright [Tuesday night]. Instead, we forced a runoff with a candidate with statewide name recognition and a significant financial advantage.
“That says something important; Voters are looking closely, and they’re making up their own minds about our records. They want real, tangible solutions to bring down costs, create housing opportunities and protect due process from ICE lawlessness,” she added. “And they want fighters who stand firm in their values — not someone who suddenly finds new ones when it suits their ambitions.”
Allred, who had been running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate before Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett entered that race, issued a statement Wednesday expressing gratitutde “to the voters of the 33rd District who gave our campaign a double-digit victory last night. This is the community where I grew up, where I attended public schools and where Aly and I are now raising our two boys. The people of this district know me, and they know my record — from securing $135 in federal funding to opening the VA Hospital in Garland. I am proud to have earned their trust.”
He continued, “As we head into the May 26 runoff, our campaign is only growing stronger. At a time when Donald Trump and his allies are attacking our rights and our democracy, the people of this district deserve a representative who will fight for them, not one who profits off Palantir, the company ICE uses for surveillance to track and detain immigrant families and American citizens.
“Dallas families are struggling with the cost of groceries, gas and housing, and they need someone in Congress who shows up for them — that’s exactly why I’m9 percent. fighting to represent us in Washington.”
Latest totals from the Texas Secretary of State show Allred received 31,406 votes (44 percent), while Johnson finished with 23,733 votes (33 percent). The remining 23 percent of the votes were divided between Carlos Quintanilla with 14 percent and Zeeshan Hafeez with 9 percent.
The runoff is set for May 26.
— Tammye Nash