Early voting is underway across Texas, marking the start of voting in runoff elections that could see lower turnout than November contests. One closely watched race is in Texas Congressional District 33, a newly redrawn district in Dallas County where two well-known Democrats are competing for th e seat. Congresswoman Julie Johnson (D-Farmers Branch) is facing former Congressman Colin Allred (D-Dallas) after Republican lawmakers in Austin redrew congressional boundaries, moving the district out of Fort Worth. Early Voting Decision 2026 May 15 Voter Guide: Primary Runoff is May 26 — Here's who is on the ballot and where to vote Decision 2026 May 15 Race list for May 26 Texas primary runoff Johnson, who said she was effectively drawn out of her current district, is campaigning on her legislative record. “People need people who are gonna be effective. I have a strong record, both in the state legislature and up here in Congress, of actually filing meaningful legislation and actually getting the job done,” Johnson said. Johnson also criticized Allred’s past votes in Congress supporting ICE immigration efforts, including the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act. “When he ran for Senate, he became a Republican. He started voting with Republicans, and he abandoned his democratic values,” Johnson said. Allred, who lost a U.S. Senate race in 2024 and later dropped out of another statewide campaign this year, said he is the stronger candidate for the majority-minority district. “I’m proud of my service in my first six years in Congress. We’re delivering the Garland VA Hospital $135 million that I brought back to this district as it’s currently constructed,” Allred said. Allred criticized Johnson for buying and selling stocks while serving in Congress, a legal practice that has drawn scrutiny from some voters. “That contributes to this overall atmosphere that I think has made Trump possible,” Allred said. Full interviews lone star politics 4 hours ago Congresswoman Julie Johnson on her tough race for Dallas-based seat lone star politics 4 hours ago Former Congressman Colin Allred on his tough race for Dallas-based seat Both candidates told NBC DFW they believe the other’s campaign is misrepresenting their records and attacks. The winner of the runoff is expected to have an advantage in November because the district was drawn to favor Democrats. Early voting continues throughout the week. Dallas County voters can cast ballots at any voting location countywide. Election Day is Tuesday, May 26. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. ...read more read less