Colin Allred facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colin Allred
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Official portrait, 2022
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 32nd district |
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| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Pete Sessions | ||
| Succeeded by | Julie Johnson | ||
| Personal details | |||
| Born |
Colin Zachary Allred
April 15, 1983 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| Political party | Democratic | ||
| Spouse |
Alexandra Eber
(m. 2017) |
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| Children | 2 | ||
| Education | Baylor University (BA) University of California, Berkeley (JD) |
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Football career |
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| No. 56 | |||
| Position: | Linebacker | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Weight: | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Hillcrest (Dallas, Texas) | ||
| College: | Baylor | ||
| Undrafted: | 2006 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Colin Zachary Allred (born April 15, 1983) is an American politician and lawyer. He used to be a professional football player. From 2019 to 2025, he served as a U.S. representative for the 32nd district of Texas. This area includes parts of Dallas and nearby towns like Garland and Richardson.
Before becoming a politician, Allred played as a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans in the National Football League (NFL). After four seasons, he left football to study law. He earned his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Later, he worked in the Obama administration. He was part of the Democratic Party. In 2018, Allred won against Pete Sessions, who had been a representative for a long time.
Allred ran for the United States Senate in Texas in 2024. He challenged the Republican Senator Ted Cruz. Allred lost to Cruz in the main election. He did not run for re-election as a U.S. representative. In July 2025, Allred decided to run for the U.S. Senate again for the 2026 election.
Early Life and School
Allred was born in Dallas, Texas. His mother, a public school teacher, raised him by herself. He is a fourth-generation Texan. Allred went to Hillcrest High School in Dallas. There, he played baseball, basketball, and football. He was also the class president. He received a scholarship to play college football at Baylor University.
In 2001, Allred started playing for the Baylor Bears as a linebacker. In 2005, his team chose him as their captain and defensive MVP. Allred graduated from Baylor in December 2005 with a degree in history. He was recognized for his strong performance in football and academics.
Professional Sports Career
Playing Football
The Tennessee Titans signed Allred as an undrafted free agent in May 2006. He joined their main team in December 2007. Allred played in 32 games for the Titans between 2007 and 2010. He made 46 tackles during his time with the team.
In October 2010, Allred was seriously injured in his neck during a game. After this injury, he decided to stop playing football. He then chose to go to law school.
Becoming a Lawyer
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In 2011, Allred began studying at the UC Berkeley School of Law. He worked as a research assistant for a professor. He earned his law degree in 2014.
After law school, Allred worked for an organization called Battleground Texas. He helped with voter protection efforts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In 2016, he worked for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. He worked with Secretary Julian Castro during the Obama administration.
Later, Allred became a civil rights attorney at a law firm. He focused on voting rights cases. He also advised political candidates and groups.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2018 Election
In April 2017, Allred announced he would run for Congress. He wanted to challenge the Republican representative Pete Sessions. Allred won the first round of the Democratic primary election. Then, in May 2018, he won the runoff election with 69.5% of the votes.
Allred then faced Pete Sessions in the main election. This district was considered a "swing" district. This means it could be won by either a Democrat or a Republican. Allred described himself as a moderate Democrat.
On November 6, 2018, Allred was elected to the House of Representatives. His win was a surprise because Sessions had been in Congress since 1997. Allred became the first Democrat to represent this district. He was one of two former NFL players to win a seat in Congress that year.
2022 Election
The United States Chamber of Commerce supported Allred in the 2022 House election. This group often supports Republican candidates.
Time in Office
Allred was chosen as a co-president for the new Democratic members of Congress in 2019. He supported his former boss, Julian Castro, in the 2020 presidential primaries. After Castro left the race, Allred supported Joe Biden.
Allred voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump two times. The first time was in 2019. The second time was in 2021 after the January 6 Capitol attack.
During his time in Congress, Allred worked with Senator John Cornyn on a bill about community safety. He also worked to create a new VA Medical Center in Garland. He supported funding for new veterans' facilities in other Texas cities. He also helped secure money for airport improvements in Dallas.
In 2023, a group called the Common Ground Committee said Allred was the most bipartisan member of Congress from Texas. This means he worked well with members of both parties.
Committee Work
Allred was part of several important committees in the House of Representatives:
- Committee on Foreign Affairs: This committee deals with how the U.S. interacts with other countries.
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: This committee handles roads, bridges, airports, and other public works.
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs: This committee works on issues affecting military veterans.
Groups He Joined
Allred was also a member of several groups in Congress:
- Congressional Black Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition
- Bipartisan Paid Leave Working Group
- Supply Chain Caucus (Co-chair)
- Future Forum (Co-chair of Communications)
Running for U.S. Senate
2024 Campaign
On May 3, 2023, Allred announced he would run for the United States Senate in 2024. He challenged the Republican Senator Ted Cruz. In March 2024, he won the Democratic Party's primary election.
Allred received support from groups like the Human Rights Campaign. On November 5, 2024, Allred lost the general election to Cruz.
2026 Campaign
On July 1, 2025, Allred decided to run for the U.S. Senate again. He plans to challenge Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 election.
Political Views
The AFL-CIO, a large union group, gave Allred a 100% voting record on union issues. Allred is considered a moderate Democrat. More than 70% of the bills he supported had support from both parties.
COVID-19
Allred stressed how important it was for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. He spoke out against people spreading false information about the vaccine.
Foreign Policy
In December 2023, Allred voted to provide support to Israel after an attack. Two months later, he voted to condemn anti-Zionism as antisemitism.
In 2023, Allred voted against a resolution that would have removed U.S. troops from Syria.
Gun Laws
Allred voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This law helps states pass "red-flag laws." It also made it harder for abusive partners to get guns. Allred also supports a federal ban on assault weapons.
Immigration
In 2019, Allred did not support sending troops to the southern border. In January 2024, Allred was one of 14 Democrats who voted for a resolution. This resolution criticized the Biden administration's border policies.
Voting Rights
In 2021, Allred led a group of House Democrats. They asked their Senate colleagues to pass the "Freedom to Vote Act." A year later, he supported the "Sustaining Our Democracy Act." This bill would improve voting equipment and make voting easier.
Personal Life
Allred married Alexandra Eber on March 25, 2017. They have two sons, born in 2019 and 2021. Colin Allred is related to a former Texas governor, James V. Allred.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2022
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Allred (#56) on a defensive play during Tennessee Titans training camp in 2008
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Allred with Secretary Castro in 2016
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2018 U.S. House elections results for Texas's 32nd congressional district
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Allred visits a chip factory in Texas and pushes for the bipartisan Building Chips in America bill in 2023.
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Allred while on the Committee of Foreign Affairs asks questions at a hearing on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen in 2022.
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Allred meeting with the Dallas Chamber of Commerce to discuss the Inflation Reduction bill in 2022
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Allred "calls on Congress to work together" and address the issue of border security in 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Colin Allred para niños
