Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett launches U.S. Senate campaign

DALLAS - U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, of Texas, the high-profile Democrat who represents a southern portion of the Dallas area, has officially joined the packed race for sitting U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's seat. 

Crockett, known for her outspoken opinions on progressive issues, faces other familiar names in the Democratic primary. 

Jasmine Crockett running for Senate

What we know:

During her campaign launch, Crockett cast her Senate run as a response to what she described as a political system increasingly dominated by self-interest and partisan gamesmanship. She told supporters that Texans deserve "public servants, not kings," arguing that Republican leaders in Texas and Washington D.C. have placed themselves above the people they represent.

Crockett repeatedly targeted Sen. John Cornyn, accusing him of following former President Donald Trump rather than advocating for Texans on issues such as health care, affordability and rural hospital closures. She criticized Cornyn for "bending the knee" to Trump and highlighted his long tenure in office, saying he has become disconnected from everyday concerns. Crockett also referenced Cornyn’s past oversight of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a frequent subject of her critiques, saying he had failed to deliver meaningful results for working families.

She also accused Republican leaders of "cheating" by manipulating district lines, a reference to the Supreme Court decision that allowed new congressional maps to take effect for 2026. Crockett argued that the maps were drawn to weaken the political power of communities of color and silence voters who have supported her in past elections.

Crockett said her own path to the Senate is rooted in coalition-building, emphasizing that Texas is "61% people of color" and that winning statewide will require a multiracial, multi-generational movement. She framed her campaign as a continuation of her work mobilizing voters who feel overlooked by both parties, saying those voters helped fuel her earlier victories.

"This is why I’m running," she told the crowd. "Because Texans deserve a government that works for them, one that lowers costs, protects rights and gives every family a fair shot. I’m running to make sure the people, not the powerful, decide the future of this state."

Crockett's congressional district

Local perspective:

The event also marked the beginning of a political reshuffling in Dallas, where Friendship-West senior pastor, the Rev. Frederick Haynes, has signaled interest in running for the 30th Congressional District seat Crockett would leave open.

FOX 4 political reporter Steven Dial confirmed that Crockett filed paperwork Monday to run for Senate, just hours before the deadline to enter the primary for the 2026 midterms.

In mid-October, Crockett said during a FOX News interview that she would decide after court rulings on new congressional maps and further polling analysis. The Supreme Court recently paused a lower court's ruling against the maps, meaning Crockett's district will be changed in favor of a Republican nominee for the upcoming election cycle. 

Statewide polling shows Crockett has a lead over state Rep. James Talarico and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke. The same polling shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton with a narrow lead over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn for the Republican Senate nomination.

Who is Jasmine Crockett?

Crockett has represented Texas' 30th Congressional District since 2023. Since then, she's gained national recognition for her outspoken opinions and comments in the Democratic political sphere, as well as controversial statements about popular right-wing names. 

Crockett was the national co-chair of the Harris-Walz campaign. She was also invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention. Before her election to Congress, Crockett represented the 100th district in the Texas House from 2021 to 2023.

Controversies:

Earlier this year, Crockett took flak from both sides of the aisle after referring to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair, as "Governor Hot Wheels." Crockett walked back the comment in a later statement, claiming she intended to reference "the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants to communities run by Black mayors."

Just a week prior to that controversy, Crockett got in hot water with comments about wanting tech giant and former Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk "taken down." Crockett later denied assertions that she was calling for violence with the comment, saying she was speaking figuratively. 

Confrontations between Crockett and other members of Congress, like U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), have earned her national attention, including being parodied on Saturday Night Live. 

Who is running for Senate in Texas?

Republicans: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, of Houston, are the current GOP challengers for Cornyn's seat.

Democrats: Texas Rep. James Talarico, of Austin, and retired NASA astronaut Terry Virts have all announced their candidacy. Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred dropped out of the Senate race Monday and opted to run for U.S. House in the 33rd Congressional district. Other possible opponents could include former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, neither of whom have announced their candidacy.

When is the next U.S. Senate Election?

Big picture view:

The 2026 U.S. Senate Elections are scheduled to be held on Nov. 3, 2026. This is for the Class II Senators. Their terms of service expire on Jan. 3, 2027. They started their terms of service on Jan. 3, 2021. Senators in Class II were elected to office in the November 2020 general election.

Thirty-three of the 100 seats in the Senate are being contested in regular elections.

The terms are for six years, and will begin on Jan. 3, 2027. They will expire on Jan. 3, 2033.

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