Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is considering entering the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, a move that has unsettled party leaders and prompted a sharp warning from Gov. Greg Abbott, who said she will be “pummeled” in a statewide race.
Crockett has scheduled an announcement event for Monday afternoon — just hours before Texas’ candidate filing deadline of December 8 at 6 p.m. Individuals familiar with her planning say she has prepared two cashier’s checks: one for a Senate bid and one to seek reelection in her Dallas-based House district.
In recent days, Crockett has privately contacted Democratic officials across Texas to gauge support, including discussions with Rep. Marc Veasey about potentially filing for her House seat if she launches a Senate campaign. She has also explored forming a coordinated slate of Democratic statewide candidates, though no such arrangement has materialized.
Abbott Responds: “She’ll Be Pummeled”
Gov. Abbott weighed in directly Sunday, posting his assessment of Crockett’s chances on X.
“Jasmine Crockett about to learn the hard way that most Texans are very different from her district, her base & her values.
She’ll be pummeled for her progressive socialist agenda & get crushed by the Republican nominee for Senate.
The Texas political cemetery is filled with blow hards like her who have no idea what it’s like to run statewide.
Looking forward to watching the circus– and KEEPING the US Senate seat red.
On the bright side for her, maybe she’ll end up with a job on The View”
Abbott’s remarks follow tensions from earlier this year after Crockett referred to him — a wheelchair user since a 1984 accident — as “Governor Hot Wheels,” drawing condemnation from disability advocates and state leaders, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Democrats Split on Her Potential Candidacy
Crockett’s deliberations have intensified divisions among Texas Democrats, who had hoped to avoid a fractured primary. Over the past week, Crockett has been on the phone with major party figures across the state, according to individuals familiar with the conversations. In those calls, she has suggested reshaping the Democratic field around her potential entry.
She recently urged Rep. Colin Allred — already running for Senate — to abandon the race and instead run for governor, while proposing that Rep. Joaquin Castro run for attorney general as part of a broader statewide slate. Crockett has also cited a favorable internal poll in conversations with other Democrats, though people familiar with the survey say it relied on a sample of roughly 600 respondents.
Crockett has additionally spoken with Rep. Marc Veasey about the timing of his filing should she vacate her House seat, and she has discussed turnout strategy with Stacey Abrams, focusing on boosting participation among Black and Latino voters.
An October survey from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University showed Crockett leading a hypothetical primary field, driven by her high name recognition and national profile. But several senior Democratic officials privately warn that she may be the party’s least competitive general-election option, citing her controversies, her combative public persona, and her potential to energize Republican turnout.
Texas Democrats have not won a statewide election since 1994.
Crockett Faces Additional Vulnerabilities
While Crockett has developed a prominent national profile and is one of the House’s more prolific fundraisers, she also brings several unresolved issues that would likely draw scrutiny in a statewide contest, previously reported by The Dallas Express and others:
- A $3,047 lien placed on her Dallas condo
- More than $110,000 in undisclosed personal debt
- Failure to disclose ownership stakes in over 25 business entities, including pharmaceutical and fossil fuel companies
- Nearly $75,000 in donor-funded luxury travel and accommodations this year
- Her widely criticized “Governor Hot Wheels” remark aimed at Abbott
Republicans say these factors would form a significant part of the statewide contrast.
Crockett Says Criticism Motivates Her
Despite pushback, Crockett has told allies that opposition strengthens her desire to run.
“I eat attacks for breakfast,” she has said in recent conversations, according to individuals familiar with the calls.
Crockett is expected to announce her decision Monday afternoon before the 6 p.m. filing deadline.
