Tacos, boxing gloves and turnout math in Dallas Democrats’ runoff between Allred, Johnson
A musty boxing gym, a venerable Baptist church, union halls and a tiny taco joint.
Democrats Colin Allred and Julie Johnson are looking for support in all kinds of places as early voting begins in a critical Dallas County congressional runoff.
Unlike the March 3 primary, which drew a historic surge of participation, the next round is expected to be determined by a far smaller crowd. Analysts say turnout could fall by more than half from the 73,000 people who cast ballots in March, roughly the size of a sold-out game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium at SMU.
For Allred and Johnson, the challenge is no longer simply about winning over Democrats. They largely align on Democratic priorities, meaning the race may instead hinge on who can better identify, motivate and deliver supporters back to the polls for a second time.
Early voting runs through Friday, with the election on May 26, the day after Memorial Day.
Allred, who finished first in the primary but fell short of the vote to avoid a runoff, …