Julie Johnson, the first LGBTQ+ Congressmember from the South, loses primary - LGBTQ Nation

Rep. Julie Johnson lost a Democratic primary runoff to former Rep. Colin Allred in Texas’ 33rd Congressional District. Allred won 54% of the vote with nearly all ballots counted. Johnson had been the first out LGBTQ+ member to represent a congressional district in a Southern state. Both candidates previously represented the same Dallas–Fort Worth area district, creating an unusual primary matchup. Johnson was elected in 2024 after Allred left for a Senate run. Texas Republican leadership redrew congressional maps last year in an unorthodox move, breaking up the former 32nd district and shifting about one-third of it into the new 33rd. Allred previously drew attention for responding to anti-trans attacks during his 2024 challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz.

"Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX) lost her primary runoff yesterday to former Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX). Johnson is the first out LGBTQ+ person to represent a congressional district in a Southern state, while Allred was criticized for his anti-trans “dog whistle” in his previous campaign. Politico reports that Allred won 54% of the votes with 99% of the votes counted in Texas' 33rd Congressional District yesterday. Both of them have represented the same district in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, creating an awkward primary battle."

"Johnson was first elected to Congress in 2024, running in Texas' 32nd after Allred had already represented that district for several years before leaving to run for Senate. But last year, the state's Republican leadership - after being directed by the president - redrew the state's congressional map in order to further gerrymander it to Democrats' disadvantage. This was considered highly unorthodox, since states usually redraw their maps only after a once-a-decade Census."

"Texas' 32nd was broken up and put into several other districts. About one-third of the 32nd is in the borders of the newly drawn 33rd. This is considered one of the few seats Democrats can win in the new map. Allred drew attention for his response to anti-trans attacks during his 2024 challenge to incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)."

"“I don't want boys playing girls' sports,” he said in a TV ad, which was a response to several aired on behalf of Cruz. Cruz's ads attacked Allred for supporting the Equality Act - a federal law that would ban anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination - and opposing a national Republican ban on trans athletes in sports. “Ted Cruz is lying again, but now he's lying about our children,” Allred says"

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