Hey, y’all, Colin here, and I’m excited to share that I just released the first part of my Anti-Corruption Plan: a real roadmap for how we clean up Washington and put Texans first.
As a fourth-generation Texan, I know our values of faith, family, and integrity aren’t just words – they’re actions. It’s what I learned as I grew up here, became the captain of the Baylor football team, a civil rights lawyer, and eventually a US Congressman, representing my home district: Real leadership means leading by example, not cutting corners.
Right now, Washington is working just fine for the billionaires, lobbyists, and Big Pharma executives who can buy influence — but not for working Texans who are paying more for groceries, housing, and health care. When billionaires write the tax code, families like ours get left behind.
I’m running for Senate to change that — to stop corruption, lower costs, and make government work for the people again. Because Texans deserve leaders who fight for them, not for special interests.
This first piece of my Anti-Corruption Plan is about cleaning up politics so that every Texan has a fair shot. I hope you’ll take a moment to read it, share your thoughts in the comments, and join me in this fight to make Washington work for us — not the other way around.
Thanks for reading,
Colin
Colin Allred’s 12-Point Anti-Corruption Plan to Clean Up Politics and Put Texans First
Colin Allred’s 12-point Anti-Corruption Plan is the first chapter of a broader blueprint to clean up Washington, end the rigged system that rewards special interests, and lower costs for Texas families.
Corruption isn’t abstract – it costs Texans money and shows up in their lives every day:
When backroom deals are cut to help favored donors, families pay more.
When lobbyists rewrite the tax code, working people shoulder a bigger burden.
When our laws let politicians off the hook for bribery, companies stop competing to lower prices and start buying influence.
It has to stop. As a fourth-generation Texan, Colin Allred knows our values of faith, family, and integrity aren’t just words – they’re actions. In the Senate, he’ll fight to end the broken system that rewards special interests and punishes Texans at the kitchen table.
As he did through his first three terms, Colin isn’t waiting for Congress to clean up its act. In the Senate, he'll continue to lead by example:
He will not trade individual stocks.
He will refuse corporate PAC money.
He will commit to a lifetime ban on lobbying.
Texans are sick of a system where billionaires and special interests buy elections while families pay the price. Colin’s plan will end the pay-to-play culture and make sure every Texan has an equal voice.
1. End Gerrymandering
The Problem: Politicians in Texas carve up districts to protect themselves, disenfranchise Black and Latino communities, and silence voters. That lets incumbents avoid accountability while families’ real needs go unmet. Instead of competing to serve their constituents, too many politicians are rewarded for chasing the loudest extremes.
The Solution: Right now, we’ll fight fire with fire – organizing and winning even under rigged maps and doing what must be done to level the playing field. But when we retake power, we must fix the system once and for all. We will pass a federal redistricting law requiring independent, nonpartisan commissions that draw maps to represent communities, not to favor either political party, with transparent criteria that comply with the Voting Rights Act. And we will ban mid-decade redistricting schemes designed to entrench partisan power.
The Impact: With fair maps, politicians will have to earn votes and deliver for their communities – by lowering health care costs, fixing schools, and investing in infrastructure – not just fighting to be the most extreme voice in a primary to protect their own seats.
2. Overturn Citizens United
The Problem: The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision unleashed unlimited corporate and billionaire spending in our elections, drowning out the voices of ordinary Texans. Politicians now answer more to their donors than to their voters.
The Solution: Pass the Democracy for All Amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore Congress’ ability to limit corporate and dark money in politics.
The Impact: Texans will know their representatives are accountable to them and their bottom lines – not to billionaires and corporate interests trying to buy power.
3. Expose Dark Money
The Problem: Texans see attack ads and political campaigns backed by “dark money” groups with no ability to know who is footing the bill. That secrecy allows corporations and special interests to manipulate elections without accountability.
The Solution: Pass the DISCLOSE Act to require all political groups to reveal their donors and spending, no exceptions.
The Impact: Texans will know exactly who’s trying to influence their votes – and can hold those special interests accountable when they try to sell the public a bill of goods.
4. Ban Corporate PAC Contributions
The Problem: Our nation’s largest corporations curry favor with politicians by raising millions through their special-interest PACs. By accepting corporate PAC money, candidates place corporate priorities ahead of the public interest – and Texans end up paying more while insiders profit.
The Solution: Pass the Ban Corporate PACs Act to prohibit members of Congress and federal candidates from accepting contributions from corporate PACs.
The Impact: Texans will know their representatives are accountable only to voters – not to corporations looking to buy influence in Washington and price gouge our families.
5. Strengthen the FEC
The Problem: The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is a watchdog without teeth. It’s underfunded, deadlocked, and unable to enforce campaign finance laws.
The Solution: Pass the Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act to restructure the FEC to require equal party representation on the commission, open a pathway for judicial review, and provide sufficient resources to investigate violations.
The Impact: Texans will know their elections are safe – with real penalties for candidates and special interests who break the rules. Corruption in campaigns will no longer run on the “honor system” – it will finally be met with accountability.
6. Automatically Register Eligible Voters
The Problem: Too many states erect barriers to voting, making it harder for young people, seniors, and working Texans to participate in our democracy. Low turnout means politicians can ignore whole communities. Worse yet, working folks who can’t afford to tune in until late in the election often miss the registration deadline before it’s time to make their voices heard.
The Solution: Pass the Automatic Voter Registration Act to require states to register every eligible American to vote, while allowing individuals to opt out if they choose.
The Impact: Millions of young Texans will be empowered to vote without jumping through bureaucratic hoops – ensuring every voice is heard, not just those who can navigate complicated rules or afford the time to overcome those barriers.
Congress should work for Texans – not for stock portfolios, corporate boards, or the next lobbying gig. Colin’s plan will restore integrity and accountability to a broken system.
7. Ban Individual Stock Trading by Members
The Problem: Members of Congress and their families regularly trade stocks in industries they regulate, creating conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, everyday Texans watch their retirement accounts struggle while lawmakers’ portfolios thrive.
The Solution: Pass the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act to prohibit members, their spouses, and dependent children from buying or selling individual stocks while in office. They can either move their stocks into a blind trust or divest, limiting personal investment to conflict-free mutual funds and Treasury bonds.
The Impact: Texans can trust that when their representatives vote to lower drug prices or regulate energy companies, they’re doing it for the public good – not their own financial gain.
8. Expand Bribery Definition
The Problem: A recent Supreme Court ruling narrowed the legal definition of bribery to only “official acts” like casting votes. That loophole allows politicians to sell access and influence with no repercussions.
The Solution: Pass the Closing Bribery Loopholes Act to broaden the definition of bribery so that selling access, favors, or influence is illegal – not just trading votes.
The Impact: Texans won’t have to wonder if their representatives are giving special treatment to donors while stalling bills that would lower costs – corruption would be illegal in all its forms.
9. Pass a Lifetime Lobbying Ban
The Problem: Too many lawmakers cash out of Congress to become lobbyists, trading on their insider knowledge to enrich themselves and their corporate clients.
The Solution: Pass the Close the Revolving Door Act to impose a lifetime lobbying ban on members of Congress and expand the cooling-off period for senior staff to six years.
The Impact: Texans will know their representatives aren’t treating public service as a stepping stone to a high-paying lobbying gig – they’re in it for the people.
10. Prohibit Members From Serving on Corporate Boards
The Problem: Some members of Congress hold side gigs serving on corporate boards in industries they oversee.
The Solution: Pass the Restoring Integrity in Democracy Resolution to ban members of Congress and senior staff from serving on corporate boards.
The Impact: Texans will have representatives who are full-time public servants – not part-time politicians moonlighting for corporations.
11. Strengthen the Office of Congressional Ethics
The Problem: The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) is under-resourced and lacks enforcement power. Violations often go unpunished, and the Senate has no comparable office.
The Solution: Reform and expand the OCE to cover both chambers of Congress, give it subpoena power, and authorize it to refer violations directly to law enforcement.
The Impact: Texans will know there are real consequences for corruption – no more politicians policing themselves with a wink and a nod.
12. Reform the Filibuster
The Problem: Senators can quietly block legislation without ever taking the floor, grinding Congress to a halt. The filibuster was historically used to block civil rights, and today it’s used to stop bills that would lower costs for working families.
The Solution: Reform Senate rules to end the “silent filibuster” and require Senators who want to block a bill to actually stand on the floor and explain themselves to the American people.
The Impact: Texans will see a government that works again. Senators won’t be able to hide behind procedure – they’ll have to defend their obstruction in public while families pay the price.
Corruption isn’t abstract – it shows up in Texans’ bills every month.
Health care: Big Pharma keeps drug prices high by buying influence.
Tariffs: Big donors get tariff exemptions while household bills rise beyond control.
Taxes: Lobbyists carve loopholes that leave working families paying more.
Colin Allred’s plan is simple: Stop corruption, lower costs, and make government work for Texans – not for the powerful few. This 12-point Anti-Corruption Plan is a strong foundation – practical reforms we can enact now to start unrigging the system. And it’s only the beginning. Colin also knows that we need additional reforms to take on corruption in the courts, the executive branch, and every place where special interests tilt the playing field against Texans.
Colin Allred is a 4th-generation Texan, former NFL linebacker, and Democratic Congressman running for U.S. Senate. Multiple polls already show him in the lead – including the most recent poll from this race that has him up by 2 points – but with corporate PACs and right-wing millionaires pouring money into Texas to stop him, he relies on supporters like you to fund his campaign. If you believe in his work to stop the corruption in Washington, please consider donating to his campaign today.
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Paid for by Allred for Texas
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