Dr. Frederick Haynes III, the senior pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church, has filed for the democratic primary 30th Congressional District, according to public filings.

Haynes returned to leadership duties at the church last month after a medical leave.

In the statement last month, Haynes — who has served as senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church for 40 years — said he felt reenergized and ready to continue building hope, justice, and healing.  

Texas' 30th Congressional District is currently represented by Jasmine Crockett, who launched her campaign for the Democratic Senate primary on Monday.

Haynes active in national leadership

Haynes serves on the boards of the Conference of National Black Churches, National Action Network, and IC3 Church and Development Conference.

He took over leadership of the Rev. Jesse Jackson's longtime civil rights organization, the Rainbow Push Coalition, in 2023, but resigned a few months later.  

Candidates shaking up Texas politics

Democrat Colin Allred announced Monday morning he is dropping out of the U.S. Senate race in Texas, hours before Rep. Jasmine Crockett filed paperwork to enter the Democratic primary for the race. Instead, Allred said he is going to file paperwork to run for a newly drawn Congressional seat in Dallas County, setting up a primary challenge with Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson.   

In the Senate, Sen. John Cornyn, who's seeking a fifth term, is in a very close contest with his two challengers, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Houston Congressman Wesley Hunt.   

A statewide poll of 1,097 likely 2026 GOP primary voters by Hunt Research of Dallas, which is unaffiliated with any of the campaigns, conducted Oct. 6-10 right after Hunt entered the race, shows Paxton with 28%, Cornyn 24% and Hunt at 19%. 

An internal poll released by Hunt's campaign, conducted between October 28-30, shows Cornyn at 26%, Paxton at 25%, and Hunt at 24%. 

Texas to use newly drawn congressional maps

A redistricting ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court allows Texas to use the newly drawn 2025 Congressional maps for the upcoming March primary and for the all-important midterm elections next year. 

The newly redrawn congressional map could give Republicans five additional House seats, after a lower court found that some of the new voting lines were racially discriminatory.