Rev. Frederick Douglas Haynes III was victorious in the Democratic primary for Texas’s 30th Congressional District on Tuesday night.
According to CBS News, the longtime pastor from Dallas is now officially seen as the overwhelming favorite to win a seat in Congress in the heavily Democratic district.
Hailed as one of the bluest seats in the state. Texas’ 30th Congressional District currently rates the district at D+25 on its Partisan Voting Index, per The Cook Political Report. In other words, the district t votes “25 percentage points more Democratic than the nation as a whole.”
The district has been represented by Democrats for several decades, and Jasmine Crockett, who lost in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, represents the district.
In announcing his campaign, Haynes focused on “championing justice, uniting communities, and fighting for people-first leadership.”
Haynes passionately made his case to the crowd at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters in Fair Park, framing himself as an outsider to Washington who would shake things up.
“I want to get to Congress because those outside need a voice and vision on the inside,” Haynes told the crowd. “I hope y’all join me. Let’s go to the house with an outside voice and make America a better place.”
Haynes also spoke out against ICE during his speech.
“We have a terrorist group of ICE agents who are moving throughout this nation and engaging in waging war on communities,” Haynes said.
HAYNES HAS BEEN A PASTOR FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS
Since 1983, Haynes has been the senior pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church. Under his leadership, the Friendship-West Baptist Church adopted churches in both Zimbabwe and South Africa. The church membership exceeds more than 13,000 members.
He was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award in Community Service by President Joe Biden in 2022. He also previously served as the CEO of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the social justice organization founded by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Haynes earned his B.A. degree in religion and English from Bishop College, his M.Div. degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his D.Min. degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation.