Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett Launches US Senate Campaign

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett launched a US Senate campaign out of Republican-led Texas on Monday.

The Details: Crockett, a self-proclaimed progressive, filed her campaign paperwork hours before the qualification window closed, after former Rep. Colin Allred (D) ended his campaign in pursuit of a House seat. She is set to face Rep. James Talarico in a Democratic primary on March 3, 2026, ahead of a general election in November. 

For Context: The seat Crockett and Talarico are after is currently held by Sen. John Cornyn, who is running for reelection against state Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt in the Republican primary. The election will be the first of its kind to follow recent redistricting in the state of Texas and is expected to have an increase in conservative voters.

Campaign Announcement: "It's our time," Crockett said as she concluded her official announcement speech on Monday. The announcement focused on making affordability an "obtainable reality," as she asserted, "The state is thriving while the people are facing tribulation." Crockett denounced the recent redistricting and declared, "They tell us that Texas is red. They are lying… The reality is that most Texans don't get out to vote." She was staunchly critical of President Donald Trump in particular, of whom Cornyn is a supporter; and she said, "Cornyn has forgotten who sent him to the Senate," referencing the senator's pension checks and a shift towards Trump's agenda. "When Texas turns blue," she told her supporters, "it won't be because of any one candidate, but because of each and every one of you doing your part."

How The Media Covered It: Associated Press (Left bias) called Crockett "one of Congress' most outspoken Democrats and a frequent target of GOP attacks." The outlet referred to a Democratic Senate majority as a "long shot" but also claimed that Cornyn "is facing the toughest GOP primary of his career." Straight Arrow News (Center) speculated that negative media attention from the right could affect Crockett's ability to win the primary. It noted that she called Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) – who uses a wheelchair – "Governor Hot Wheels," though she claimed the nickname was a reference to his "planes, trains and automobiles" immigration approach. Fox News (Right) called Crockett "the progressive firebrand and vocal critic of [Trump] and Republicans" and said Trump "has repeatedly questioned her intelligence." The outlet specifically noted that Crockett is black. (Note: This featured media coverage was analyzed prior to Crockett's speech.)

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