Texas Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred recently attended a voter registration drive at the Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas where he received public support from Reverend Frederick Haynes III, a pastor known for his outspoken and controversial views, according to the Washington Free Beacon. During the service, Haynes publicly praised Allred’s campaign and called for the removal of current Republican Senator John Cornyn, stating, he’s “got to go.”
Earlier in his sermon, Haynes sharply criticized conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was tragically shot and killed at Utah Valley University during a Turning Point USA event, describing Kirk as “racist, rooted in white supremacy, nasty and hate-filled”. Haynes rejected the notion that Kirk’s death was an assassination comparable to historical political murders and cast doubt on Kirk’s Christian faith by using air quotes in his remarks. He also cautioned politicians against claiming that “America is better than this” in response to political violence, arguing that the country was “born in political violence” and referencing the slave trade as historical examples.
“You’re lying,” Haynes said. “We ain’t better than this. America was born in political violence. America committed political violence in the slave trade.”
While Allred did not publicly comment on Haynes’s sermon, he posted photos from the event and praised the church and Haynes for expanding voter engagement and coalition-building. Allred has previously attended services at Friendship-West Baptist as a part of past campaigns, suggesting ongoing ties with the congregation and its leadership.
Reverend Haynes has been involved in other controversies, including posting photos with Louis Farrakhan in 2017 and making anti-Israel statements in sermons following the October 2023 Hamas attack, accusing the United States of supporting apartheid and criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Colin Allred stands as a leading Democrat in the Senate race, though other figures like Jasmine Crockett and Beto O’Rourke have been urged by party members to contend. Allred previously lost a campaign against Ted Cruz by nine points and is now targeting John Cornyn’s seat.