By Ginika Igboke
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) officially launched her U.S. Senate campaign on Dec. 8, entering the race to challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). Her announcement came the same day former Rep. Colin Allred—Democrats’ 2024 Senate nominee—ended his Senate bid and shifted his focus to running for the newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District.
Crockett unveiled her campaign at a Monday rally. A video posted on her X account featured audio clips of President Donald Trump calling her both “the new star of the Democrat party” and “a very low IQ person,” before directing viewers to a donation page.
She has risen to national prominence for her outspoken criticism of Republicans, including Trump, and for high-profile clashes with members of Congress such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
“For too long, Texas has elected senators who have defended politics as usual and protected the status quo, while Texans pay the price,” Crockett said on her campaign website. She added that she aims to be “an independent voice for all 30 million Texans—not a rubber stamp or party line vote for Donald Trump.”
At her rally, Crockett told supporters that while some Democrats urged her to remain in the House, Texas needed her “to have a bigger voice” in the Senate. She said she could have “played it safe” but believes “this moment we’re in now is life or death. It’s all or nothing. It’s now or never.”
She acknowledged the challenges Democrats face in Texas, noting no Democrat has won a statewide election in the 21st century. “There is no roadmap,” she said. “If there was anyone with the recipe, well, they would have already won.”
Allred, who had long been expected to withdraw to avoid a divisive Democratic primary, confirmed his decision the same day Crockett launched her campaign. Texas State Rep. James Talarico has also announced a run for the seat.
In a Dec. 8 letter posted on social media, Allred said he was moved by Texans’ stories and gratitude for their trust. He wrote that a contentious primary and likely runoff “would prevent the Democratic Party from going into this critical election unified,” adding that he felt a responsibility to do what is best for the state.
He then announced his candidacy for the U.S. House in the newly redrawn 33rd District—“the community where I grew up attending public schools and watching my mom struggle to pay for our groceries.” Allred noted he has already helped secure more than $135 million in federal funding for housing, transportation, and health care in the area.
Speaking to CNN’s Dana Bash, Allred said he had been considering the shift “for some time,” emphasizing the need for party unity. He acknowledged that Crockett’s likely candidacy influenced his decision and described her as “a friend of mine” he has known for years. With three strong candidates in the field, he said, a runoff was all but guaranteed—something he believed would not serve voters or the party.
Allred did not endorse a candidate for the Senate primary, saying he is focused on his House campaign but stressed the need for Democrats to unite ahead of November.
His move follows his 2024 loss to Sen. Ted Cruz, where Democrats again fell short in their efforts to flip a statewide seat. Cruz defeated Allred by 8.5 percent.
Allred’s new House race will play out under congressional boundaries recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The redistricting map, created by the Republican-controlled Legislature, is expected to further strengthen GOP representation in Texas’s congressional delegation.
Original article
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