- Rep.
Jasmine Crockett announces U.S. Senate run. - Entering
crowded race against Sen. John Cornyn. - Joins
both Republican and Democratic challengers.
The morning before Crockett’s campaign launch, former
Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX-32), who had been last year’s nominee for the
U.S. Senate, withdrew his bid. Her filing on Monday afternoon came after a
number of campaign changes as the filing deadline on Monday night drew
near.
Crockett frequently makes headlines around the country for
her fighting with other powerful GOP members and her unvarnished remarks, which
are usually directed at the Republican Party’s leadership.
As other candidates entered the race, including Democratic
candidates Allred and state Representative James Talarico (D-Austin), as well
as Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt
(R-TX-38), she hinted at a possible candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
In the run-up to Monday night, Crockett repeatedly hinted
that she would only consider running for the U.S. Senate if she was presented
with general election polls that demonstrated her route to success.
Early in October, surveys
from Texas Southern University and the University of Houston were issued to
gauge Crockett’s chances of winning the race. It discovered that Crockett led
the Democratic field with 31 percent in a four-way primary matchup with
Talarico, O’Rourke, and the now-null Allred. Talarico and O’Rourke were tied
behind her.
Additionally, it demonstrated that, in a hypothetical
general election in November 2026, she might defeat Republicans Cornyn, Paxton,
and Hunt by anywhere from six points to as little as two points. Paxton, who
was only two percent ahead of her, seemed to be her greatest chance to win the
general. At five percent, Hunt was ahead of her, and Cornyn was challenging at
six percent.
Allred, Talarico, Beto O’Rourke, and Congressman Joaquin
Castro (D-TX-20) met to prepare a statewide slate of Democratic candidates;
Crockett was not invited, according to CNN reporting over the weekend. However,
the meeting produced no specific strategy and ended without a designated U.S.
Senate candidate.
In addition to suggesting Castro run for Texas attorney
general, Crockett had asked Allred to run for governor, a position that state
representative Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin) has now announced. Neither intends
to.
Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX-33) filed to run for the U.S.
House district in Crockett’s place after she formally forfeited her seat as
representative for the 30th Congressional District at the end of her current
term.
How could redistricting affect Crockett’s House seat in
2026?
Democratic redistricting in Texas, upheld by the US Supreme
Court on December 5, 2025, redraws TX- 30 Senator Jasmine Crockett’s Dallas-
grounded quarter incorporating it with TX- 33( Rep. Julie Johnson) and TX- 24(
Rep. Marc Veasey), lacing Popular strength and potentially barring one safe
blue seat by shifting her home into a competitive or GOP- leaning chart.
TX- 30 loses 97 of its previous choosers, getting Trump 20
under new lines vs. Harris 44 preliminarily; Crockett’s hearthstone moves to
TX- 33, forcing a three- way Popular primary scramble. Veasey eyes TX- 30,
Johnson TX- 33; Crockett’s Senate jump clears paths but risks her House
obligation if she stays, amid GOP earnings of 1- 2 net seats statewide.
Crockett called it” gerrymandering air,”
concluding for the Senate to avoid primary fights; ruling preserves coalition
sections minimally but favors Republicans long- term, complicating Popular
House flips.
