Texas Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett has officially announced her candidacy for the Democratic primary in the U.S. Senate seat, setting herself up as a major contender against other Democrats Rep. James Talarico and former Rep. Colin Allred.
Crockett's announcement comes after she filed paperwork to run for the seat, just hours ahead of a planned news conference where she would have announced her plans. During her statement, Crockett expressed frustration with Republicans' policies, particularly those affecting rural hospitals and public schools, as well as their stance on gun control.
Talarico, who has also generated national headlines with his campaign, issued a statement welcoming Crockett into the race, emphasizing the importance of unity over division. Allred, meanwhile, dropped out of the Senate race earlier this week to run for the newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District in Dallas County.
The Republican primary is expected to be closely contested, with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton facing off against U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. The general election matchup between Crockett and whichever Republican candidate emerges victorious could be one of the most expensive races in the 2026 national cycle.
Crockett's entry into the race has been met with skepticism by some Democrats, who fear that her candidacy may alienate moderate voters. "I think she's a real polarizing candidate," said Vinny Minchillo, a Republican consultant. "She's fun to watch on the news, but I don't think it will work in a general election."
However, others believe that Crockett could be a game-changer for Democrats in Texas. "When we ended up with the Trump phenomenon or even when we ended up with the Obama phenomenon, they were able to bring out people who historically didn't vote," she said. "I think that's the only way we win in Texas is if we have a candidate that can add to the electorate."
The Senate seat has long been considered one of the most competitive races in Texas, and this election could potentially flip control of the state from Republicans to Democrats for the first time in over 30 years.
Crockett's announcement comes after she filed paperwork to run for the seat, just hours ahead of a planned news conference where she would have announced her plans. During her statement, Crockett expressed frustration with Republicans' policies, particularly those affecting rural hospitals and public schools, as well as their stance on gun control.
Talarico, who has also generated national headlines with his campaign, issued a statement welcoming Crockett into the race, emphasizing the importance of unity over division. Allred, meanwhile, dropped out of the Senate race earlier this week to run for the newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District in Dallas County.
The Republican primary is expected to be closely contested, with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton facing off against U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. The general election matchup between Crockett and whichever Republican candidate emerges victorious could be one of the most expensive races in the 2026 national cycle.
Crockett's entry into the race has been met with skepticism by some Democrats, who fear that her candidacy may alienate moderate voters. "I think she's a real polarizing candidate," said Vinny Minchillo, a Republican consultant. "She's fun to watch on the news, but I don't think it will work in a general election."
However, others believe that Crockett could be a game-changer for Democrats in Texas. "When we ended up with the Trump phenomenon or even when we ended up with the Obama phenomenon, they were able to bring out people who historically didn't vote," she said. "I think that's the only way we win in Texas is if we have a candidate that can add to the electorate."
The Senate seat has long been considered one of the most competitive races in Texas, and this election could potentially flip control of the state from Republicans to Democrats for the first time in over 30 years.
. I mean, she's definitely not afraid to speak her mind about those Republican policies that are affecting rural hospitals and public schools. But, let's be real, some folks might see her as a bit of a polarizing figure, you know? 
Still, if she can bring out the vote in Texas like some of these other strong candidates have done in the past, I think Democrats got a shot at flipping that Senate seat and maybe even control of the state 
. The Republican primary is gonna be wild though, with Sen. Cornyn and Paxton facing off against Ust Rep. Wesley Hunt... this is gonna be a tough one to call 
! she's been killing it on the news and i love how passionate she is about her policies 
. I think some ppl are sleeping on her, thinking she'll alienate moderate voters, but honestly i think that's a good thing 
? we need more people speaking out against those policies they've been pushing, especially in Texas where rural hospitals & schools have been hit hard 
. and can we talk about how long it's been since Texas went blue? 
I'm intrigued by Crockett's candidacy, she seems like a breath of fresh air after all the establishment types that have been running around Texas politics for ages. Her focus on issues affecting rural hospitals and public schools is exactly what we need to change - it's about time someone spoke up for those who are often left behind in this state. 
I also love how she's embracing her roots as a small-town girl, it's refreshing to see politicians being genuine and not just trying to fit into some predetermined mold. 
this is gonna be interesting! jasmine crockett seems like a passionate candidate, but i'm not sure if she's the best fit for texas. don't get me wrong, it's great that she's speaking out on issues that matter to her constituents... like how about when she started this campaign? 
but others think she can bring in new voters who normally wouldn't show up at the polls. that's a tough sell for me... what do u guys think? 
. And what's with this "unity over division" nonsense? Sounds like a bunch of scripted talking points to me 
. Mark my words, there's more to this story than meets the eye 
.
honestly, as much as i love a good underdog story, crockett needs to actually deliver on some real policy wins if she wants to win over moderate voters. otherwise, she's just gonna end up like all the other token "lefty" reps in texas...