To hear interviews with Dallas County Democratic Party chairman Kardal Coleman and vice chair Jasmin Flores from early on election night, click here.
DALLAS—Congressman Colin Allred gave his concession speech late Tuesday, which included a heartwarming sentiment about his children and a message of hope for the future.
Allred took the stage to massive applause and began his speech by telling the crowd that he had minutes before called his opponent, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, to congratulate him on his victory in the senatorial race. This was met with roaring boos of disapproval by the crowd.
“I said it then and I’ll say it now, you can’t just be a patriot when your side wins, and tonight we didn’t win. But we will continue to be patriots,” Allred said.
He went on to thank everyone—Texans as well as volunteers and supporters from other states—who helped with his campaign. He stressed the importance of a $4 or $5 donation, especially to lower-income families, noting that these donations are an act of hope for a better future for their families and loved ones.
Allred then spoke on one of his key running platforms, abortion rights. He said that there were too many names to list of incredible Texas women he had the opportunity to meet throughout his campaign who were brave enough to get on a stage and share their most painful memories with the state and the nation at large to attempt to make a change. He said that he and his wife will never forget their strength and their courage and that he will never stop fighting for them.
He said it was not just courageous for him to run for Congress as an individual from a lower-income single-parent home, but it was also an act of courage for everyone who went out and voted in this election.
“It took courage for each and every one of you and everyone who got called in this campaign to believe in this election and to put everything you had into it,” Allred said. “And it’s going to take courage for whatever comes tomorrow and the day after that. This country is worth fighting for. This state is worth fighting for. We are a great country; nobody needs to make us great again.”
Allred urged his supporters to leave with their shoulders back and their heads held high because they were all participants in an American election. He said that, as Americans, citizens should not settle their issues in the streets with violence but rather in the ballot box with their votes. If they don’t win, they should dust off their shoulders and come back stronger for the next time.
Allred finished with a plea.
“Whatever happens in this election, I want you all to remember, remember who we are, don’t ever lose sight of it, and don’t ever let anyone tell you that’s not who we are,” Allred said. “I want to thank you again, God bless you. God bless Texas. And may God continue to bless the greatest country in the world, the United States of America.”
To listen to a time-compressed recording of live election night coverage in a collaboration with UTA Radio, click here. Arlington Sentinel reporters Joseph Morgan and Lia Persichitte provided coverage from Democratic and Republican watch parties, respectively. UTA Radio’s Mabel Cruz anchored coverage, supported by Arlington Sentinel bilingual multimedia projects reporter Londy Ramirez.
