Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has jumped into the fray for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, igniting a political storm that’s got everyone talking.
On Monday, just before the candidate filing deadline, Crockett officially entered the Democratic primary for the 2026 Texas Senate race, a decision that’s turned the contest on its head and drawn fierce reactions from both political camps.
Having stormed into Congress in 2022 after serving in the Texas House, Crockett has carved out a name as a progressive champion, often locking horns with Republican titans like President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
By opting for a Senate run, she’s abandoning a re-election bid for her House seat in the 30th Congressional District, a role she’s held since 2023 after taking over from Eddie Bernice Johnson.
Her move comes on the heels of former Rep. Colin Allred stepping back from the Senate race to target a newly redrawn congressional district, opening the door for new Democratic contenders.
In the Democratic primary set for March 3, 2026, Crockett will face off against state Rep. James Talarico, with a possible runoff in May if no one clinches a majority.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson couldn’t contain his amusement on Wednesday, offering a sly nod to Crockett’s candidacy during a news conference.
“Absolutely delighted that Jasmine Crockett is running for Senate in Texas. I think it’s one of the greatest things that’s happened to the Republican Party in a long, long time,” Johnson declared.
Johnson’s barely veiled smirk suggests he thinks Crockett’s progressive platform won’t sell in a state as grounded as Texas, though her 84% name recognition among Democrats, per a Change Research poll, might give him pause.
Over in the Republican camp, the 2026 Senate primary is shaping up to be a slugfest, with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt all vying for the spot.
Paxton’s legal entanglements could be a liability, and GOP infighting might just hand Democrats an unexpected advantage in the general election.
Yet Crockett’s polarizing presence—49% of Texas Democrats are firmly against her, per the same poll—could dampen her party’s hopes, even as a University of Houston and Texas Southern University survey shows her leading the primary field with 31%.
Crockett’s strategy hinges on rallying Black and Latino voters to snap the Democratic drought in statewide Texas elections, a losing streak stretching back to 1988.
Her campaign has already reshaped Democratic House races in North Texas, while her sharp tongue has driven both impressive fundraising and bipartisan criticism.
Her primary rival, James Talarico, offered a gracious welcome, saying, “We’re building a movement in Texas—fueled by record-breaking grassroots fundraising and 10,000 volunteers who are putting in the work to defeat the billionaire megadonors and puppet politicians who have taken over our state.”
