State Representative Jasmine Crockett remains the favorite to win the May 24 Democratic runoff for the 30th Congressional district over Jane Hope Hamilton, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Crockett narrowly missed winning the nomination outright during the March primary, collecting 48% of the vote. Candidates must receive 50% or more to avoid a runoff. For comparison, Hamilton received 17% of the vote in the March primary.
The Congressional seat that Crockett and Hamilton are vying for opened in November of last year after Eddie Bernice Johnson announced she would not run for re-election. Crockett announced her candidacy for the seat days after the announcement, and Johnson immediately offered her endorsement.
Crockett worked as a civil rights attorney in Dallas before winning the 2020 special election for state representative, House District 30. She assumed the role vacated by Eric Johnson as he bid to win the Dallas mayoral election.
The current state representative has been active during her time in the Capitol. According to the Texas House of Representatives, Crockett filed numerous bills related to drug laws and law enforcement reform.
Crockett was also part of a contingent of House Democrats to protest a Republican election reform bill. Despite the group gaining national recognition for the effort to stop the bill. She can be seen in a video posted on Twitter by the group Move On. The bill ultimately passed when enough members of the group returned to Austin and restored quorum.
Other high-profile members of the community have lent Crockett their support. She has been endorsed by Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia as well as Rev. Frederick Haynes III, a long-time Dallas minister.
Crockett’s opponent, Hamilton, currently serves as chief of staff for U.S. Representative Marc Veasey of Texas’ 33rd Congressional District. According to DMN, her endorsements include former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk and current Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price.
Hamilton has several other accolades to her name after 20 years in politics. She was a strategic advisor to the Biden/Harris campaign and served as campaign manager for several local candidates, including County Judge Clay Jenkins.
Some of the issues Hamilton wants to address are a higher minimum wage, more funding for local schools, as well as healthcare and voting reform.
One aspect Hamilton is focusing on is her opponent’s campaign financing. According to Hamilton, Crockett received $2 million from local Political Action Committees (PACs) before the March primary.
Hamilton said, “You are hard-pressed to find that example anywhere in the state of Texas or in North Texas, for $2 million to essentially be poured in by two super PACs.”
Crockett dismissed those efforts, telling CBS, “You’re always critical when you don’t have what you want. I don’t look at it that it’s anything nefarious. It’s sad that someone would insinuate that it is.”
Crockett indicated that she also prioritizes preserving the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. A recent leak of a draft opinion suggests that the decision could be overturned as early as next month.
During a recent forum, her lack of a district office was mentioned. She indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic and the presence of her elderly district director necessitated health and safety protocols to be put in place.
Crockett also asserted that state representatives work with a limited budget, commenting that they only receive $13,000 per month for all expenditures. It should be noted, however, that all state representatives have the same budget, and most maintain a district office.
The Republican primary for the Texas 30th Congressional District will also be a runoff, pitting James Harris and James Rodgers against each other.
Given that Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson took almost 78% of the vote for District 30 in the 2020 general election, the consensus among political experts is that whoever wins the Democratic runoff will win in November.
