Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said Wednesday she “will strongly be considering” a run for U.S. Senate, citing polling that suggests she would be a frontrunner in the Democratic primary.
Why it matters: Crockett has built a national brand as the exact kind of tough political brawler that Democratic voters are increasingly looking to in their primaries.
- The second-term lawmaker is known on Capitol Hill for her withering and often profane verbal clashes with Republicans at committee hearings.
- Republicans even moved to censure Crockett in March for referring to wheelchair-bound Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels.”
Driving the news: Crockett expressed interest in a Senate run on SiriusXM’s The Lurie Daniel Favors Show while discussing her options following Texas Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting.
- The maps, which are being challenged in court, would leave Dallas’ three House Democrats with just two Democratic-leaning districts to run in.
- “If you want to take my seat of 766,000 away, I feel like there has to be some karma in that to where I take your seat that is for 30 million away,” Crockett said of a potential Senate run.
- “The question will be whether or not we believe that we’ve got enough juice to expand the electorate,” she said. “If we can expand the electorate, then I will strongly be considering hopping in the Senate race.
Between the lines: Crockett cited polling that shows her running highly competitive in the Democratic primary.
- “Every other day there’s a poll that comes out that makes it clear that I can win the primary for the U.S. Senate race in Texas,” she said.
- A University of Houston/Texas Southern University poll released earlier this month found Crockett with support from 31% of likely Democratic primary voters.
- State Rep. James Talarico and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke each garnered 25% in the survey, while 13% went for former Rep. Colin Allred. O’Rourke hasn’t announced a run.
Zoom out: Texas has emerged as a top target for Senate Democrats, especially since scandal-prone state Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a primary challenge against GOP Sen. John Cornyn.
- Polls have shown the incumbent senator and his right-wing challenger running neck and neck.
- The GOP primary got another shock earlier this month when Rep. Wesley Hunt jumped in.
- Democrats are particularly hopeful that Paxton can pull of a primary win, believing his nomination to be their best chance at winning the long-coveted Texas Senate seat.
