Colin Allred hauled in $530,000 during the year's first fundraising quarter, signaling he'll have the resources needed for a potentially tough re-election campaign.

Allred's campaign reports that he has $527,000 in the bank, a total reached without donations from corporate political action committees.

The Dallas lawyer and former NFL player raised $6 million for his successful challenge against incumbent Republican Pete Sessions for the 32nd Congressional District, a race that helped Democrats take control of the U.S. House last year.

It's almost certain that Allred will face a significant challenge in 2020, as local and national Republicans are in the process of recruiting candidates to carry the GOP's fallen standard.

"2020 is key for him," consultant and former Dallas elections manager Brooks Love said. "If he holds the seat though the next election, that gets him through the upcoming redistricting process and a better chance for Democrats to hold the seat for the next decade or longer."

Every decade, the Texas Legislature redraws legislative and congressional boundaries. Incumbents have a strong say in how their districts are designed, and areas influenced by minority voters are often protected by law. So if Allred is re-elected next year, his district would remain favorable for a Democrat.

Rep. Pete Sessions waved to reporters as he departed the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 22, 2018. (Alex Edelman / Getty Images)

But Republicans are already developing a battle plan for Allred, and national leaders will likely pour money into winning back the east and north suburban Dallas district.

Roy Bailey, a prominent Dallas fundraiser who spearheaded Sessions' financial committee, said the former House Rules Committee chairman has not decided on a comeback.

"Pete is still very interested in taking the district back," said Bailey, who helping lead fundraising efforts for President Donald Trump's re-election campaign. "He's got to complete his analysis of 2018 and what happened there, outside of what I called the Beto tsunami."

Former congressman Beto O'Rourke of El Paso helped steer voters to local Democratic candidates across the state with his unsuccessful but close campaign against Republican incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz.

"I do think we can take it back," Bailey said. "The nomination is Pete's, if he wants it. If he doesn't want it, it's an open game."

Several names have emerged as potential contenders against Allred. National Republicans have expressed interest in former Florida congressman Allen West, who now lives in North Texas, as well as former Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne, a Trump appointee in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She's been mentioned as a possible successor to Rep. Kenny Marchant of Coppell.

Other GOP names tossed about in the aftermath of Allred's victory include former state Rep. Dan Branch of University Park, and state Reps. Angie Chen Button of Garland and Morgan Meyer of University Park.

Colin Allred thanked his supporters at the Magnolia Hotel in Dallas after winning the Nov. 6 election for a U.S. House seat. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

As for Allred, fundraising never stops because two-year terms typically mean that election cycles begin as soon as a candidate takes the oath of office.

What's more, Allred hasn't cemented his status in the district yet. That makes it essential for a Democratic or Republican challenger to emerge in 2020, before he's too entrenched to beat.

The district had been trending Democratic for years. Allred broke through with help from an effective grass-roots campaign and by motivating voters on issues such as health care, particularly those who were angry that Sessions joined the GOP move to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

"What it shows is that Colin immediately enjoys widespread support on every level and there's great enthusiasm for him," said Matt Angle, founder and director of the Lone Star Project, a research group that helps Democrats. "I'm sure he's brought on new supporters who are encouraged about the brand of leadership he's bringing to North Texas."

Angle said he's not surprised Republicans are trying to reload against Allred.

"They will sweep the corners and scrape the floors trying to find somebody," he said. "It's tough to unseat an incumbent who is doing a good job."

Former Dallas County GOP chairman Jonathan Neerman, a Sessions ally, said Republicans should be registering voters and connecting with residents in the district, even before settling on a candidate.

"The 32nd District is a winnable seat for Republicans," he said. "It will take a lot of work to win it back, and that work has to start now."