Texas State Representative Jasmine Crockett defeated former congressional staffer Jane Hope Hamilton in the Democratic Primary runoff for U.S. House District 30. The district consists of southern Dallas County and was formerly represented by 15-term Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas), who retired and endorsed Crockett.
Still, Johnson said she would support whoever won the Tuesday runoff. After Crockett secured the win with 60% of the vote, Johnson attended a victory party for the nominee in Dallas on Tuesday evening. Johnson described Crockett as possessing the “fire” needed to fight for the district in Congress.
Crockett served one term in the Texas House of Representatives after winning the 2020 general election.
“It is historic to think that there is an African American woman who went off to the Texas House and as a freshman raised hell,” Crockett said. “And some colleagues were upset because I spoke my mind, and I spoke out for my district. Then after freshman term to potentially be headed to Congress.”
District 30 is considered a safe Democratic Congressional district. Johnson won her 15th term in November 2020 with over 77% of the vote; in 2018, she won over 91%, making Crockett the heavy favorite to win in November.
Crockett will face James Rodgers, a recruiter for a network of private schools, who defeated James Harris in the Republican primary on Tuesday.
“I thought I was being punked. I was waiting for the cameras,” Crockett joked Tuesday about the moment Johnson endorsed her.
“I really can’t imagine the challenges she went through,” Crockett said. “She created the pathway for me.”
Crockett said she understood that CD 30 residents have been struggling with rising prices for gas and food.
“At the end of the day, it was about who was going to do the hard work and care,” Crockett said during her victory speech. “We’ve got to start moving this country forward, and that’s what I’m committed to do.”
Crockett is a criminal defense and civil rights attorney who held the Texas House District 100 seat formerly held by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. She was part of the group of Texas House Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C., last year in an attempt to block a vote on a voting restriction bill in the State Legislature.
Crockett made several television appearances during her stay in the nation’s capital and gained significant political prominence as a freshman in the House. Eventually, the Texas Democrats returned to Austin, and the contentious election bill passed the House.
She was just two percentage points away from winning the March 1 primary outright.
Hamilton was a former aide to U.S. Rep. Martin Frost and has extensive experience as a campaign manager and political operative. She managed the successful campaigns of U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth (33rd District) and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. Hamilton also served as Veasey’s first chief of staff.
The race highlighted a split within the Dallas-area Democratic Party.
Aside from longtime Congresswoman Johnson’s endorsement, Crockett was also backed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Hamilton had her fair share of support, receiving endorsements from U.S. Trade Representative and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, State Senator Royce West, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, and Congressman Veasey.
However, Crockett’s name recognition apparently proved enough to overcome Hamilton’s list of endorsements.
Crockett said she would start transitioning from the Texas Legislature to Congress after the November election. She added that she has also been wrapping up trials for her criminal defense practice.
You can check other local congressional race results here.
