Jasmine Crockett Enters Texas U.S. Senate Race, Polls Show Lead
Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett officially announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Texas on Monday, just hours before the filing deadline. This decision comes after weeks of speculation regarding her intentions and solidifies her position against the incumbent, Republican Senator John Cornyn. Cornyn is contending with a primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Crockett’s entry into the race coincides with former Representative Colin Allred announcing his withdrawal from the Senate race. Allred’s decision appears to be influenced by Crockett’s growing momentum as a favored candidate. In a letter posted on social media, he expressed concerns about a divisive primary, stating, “I’ve come to believe that a bruising Senate Democratic primary and runoff would prevent the Democratic Party from going into this critical election unified against the danger posed to our communities and our Constitution by Donald Trump and one of his Republican bootlickers.”
Meanwhile, State Representative James Talarico remains in the race, continuing his campaign for the Senate seat.
Crockett pointed to recent data indicating her competitiveness in the race. She emphasized the importance of voter demographics, particularly focusing on turnout among “Black and Brown folks.” She stated, “The coalition that won the elections that took place on November 4 was heavily comprised of Black and Brown folks. When you look at the numbers in New Jersey and Virginia, Black and Brown people showed up and voted the right way. I am the leading candidate when it comes to those specific constituencies.”
A recent poll conducted by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University supports Crockett’s assertion of being a frontrunner. The survey, which questioned over 1,600 registered voters from September 19 to October 1, revealed that Crockett garnered 31% support among potential Democratic candidates. This was ahead of Talarico and former Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke, both at 25%, while Allred received 13%. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.4%.
Crockett’s entry into the race marks a significant development in Texas politics as she seeks to galvanize support from key demographic groups. With the general election approaching, her campaign will likely focus on unifying the Democratic base while also addressing the challenges posed by her Republican opponents.
