The Dallas congresswoman is backing Allred in his closely watched runoff against U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson for the 33rd Congressional District.
By Gromer Jeffers Jr.
Dallas Morning News
https://www.dallasnews.com/
Just over two months after her Democratic Senate primary defeat, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett returned to the campaign trail to help Democrat Colin Allred mine for votes in his congressional runoff against U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson.
At a District 30 congressional art competition Saturday in southern Dallas, Crockett said Allred was a better choice than Johnson because of his experience fighting for voting rights.
The issue has drawn greater focus in recent weeks after Supreme Court rulings that upheld newly drawn Texas congressional boundaries that critics say dilute minority voting strength and, in a Louisiana case, said the Voting Rights Act does not justify using race as the dominant factor in drawing lines.
Crockett said electing candidates with a record on voting rights was especially important as Republicans across the country push new election laws and redistricting plans. She accused GOP leaders of “decimating access to the ballot box, specifically for people of color.”
“Before he ever ran for office, Colin was a voting rights lawyer,” Crockett said after meeting Allred at the event. “He has the track record. He’s the better choice.”
Crockett is using her Fueling Individual Rights Everywhere political action committee, or FIRE PAC, to amplify her endorsements. It is designed to raise money for other candidates. Allred was the first contender to receive Crockett’s backing after her Senate primary loss to state Rep. James Talarico.
Crockett announced the effort last month on the Sherri TV program, though the PAC has raised about $35,000 so far this election cycle.
Allred hopes Crockett’s star power can help him beat Johnson in the May 26 runoff.
“People can sense her authenticity,” Allred said. “I’m happy to have her support.”
He finished first in the March 3 primary with 44% of the vote, about 10 percentage points ahead of Johnson in the four-person race for Dallas County’s 33rd Congressional District.
Because runoffs are unpredictable and typically feature low voter turnout, it’s essential that candidates get their supporters back to the polls for the second round.
Crockett is one of the most popular Democrats in the country, especially among Black voters, who could be critical in the race.
The Howard University graduate and Chicago native has covered four presidential campaigns and written extensively about local, state and national politics. Before The News, he was a reporter at The Kansas City Star and The Chicago Defender. You can catch Gromer every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on NBC 5’s Lone Star Politics.
This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.
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