A new poll shows U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) ahead of State Rep. James Talarico (D-TX-50) in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Crockett is leading Talarico by 12 points – with 56% to 44%, according to a poll from the University of Texas released February 23. This comes as the March 3 primary rapidly approaches.

Researchers collected data for the poll from February 2 to 16. Among Democrats, 71% saw Crockett positively – with 44% calling her “very favorable” and 27% “somewhat favorable.” Only 7% total saw her negatively, while 9% saw her as neither, and 12% did not know. 

Meanwhile, 59% saw Talarico positively – with 35% calling him “very favorable,” and 24% calling him “somewhat favorable.” Just 6% saw him negatively, while 15% saw him as neither, and 21% did not know. 

Overall, Crockett held a 3-point average advantage over Talarico at the time of publication, according to RealClear Politics.

Neon Middle Finger Politics: Crockett’s Notorious Insults and Outbursts Define Her Tenure

Crockett first took office in 2023, representing South Dallas in Congress. With the subtlety of a neon middle finger, she positioned herself less as a politician and more as a wannabe social media influencer, becoming notorious for spewing crude insults.

At a House Oversight Committee hearing in May 2024, Crockett insulted then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene by saying she had a “beach-blonde, bad-built, butch body.” When other legislators asked her to calm down, she began yelling.

“Don’t tell me to calm down, because y’all talk noise, and then you can’t take it,” Crockett said. “Because if I come and talk sh*t about her, y’all going to have a problem.”

In December that year, Crockett was speaking to Vanity Fair when she described Latinos who favor strict immigration policies as having a “slave mentality.” 

Then, in March 2025, Crockett called Abbott “governor hot wheels” at an event for the Human Rights Campaign, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. Abbott has used a wheelchair since an accident paralyzed him in 1984. Since then, his campaign turned the smear into a bumper sticker.

In October 2025, Crockett drew scrutiny for failing to disclose more than $110,000 in debt in her campaign finance disclosures, as The Dallas Express also reported. Additionally, she failed to disclose ownership in at least 25 companies – including marijuana businesses.

In December 2025, documents from the Dallas County Clerk’s Office showed Crockett had an unpaid lien of more than $3,000 on a luxury condo in the city. Documents listed her as the owner and claimed she “continues to fail and refuse” to pay the condo association’s fees. 

That same year, Crockett also spent nearly $75,000 in donor funds on luxury hotels, transportation, and security.

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on February 24, Crockett announced she would “boycott” the event, calling the President a “low-down, scamming wannabe king.”

Tight Races on Both Sides

The Texas Senate primary remains contentious. 

Talarico began the year with a $1.5 million advantage over Crockett’s campaign, according to The Texas Tribune. Time will tell if the state legislator’s growing influence will be enough, as he started making national waves for claiming Christian doctrine supports left-wing causes, despite his remarks not aligning with historic Christian doctrine. While on “The Late Show With Steven Colbert“, he went so far as to say that abortion and same-sex marriage are “two issues that aren’t mentioned in the Bible,” which scripture itself contests. 

On the Republican side, multiple candidates are also vying for the Senate seat.

The same recent University of Texas poll showed Attorney General Ken Paxton leading incumbent Senator John Cornyn with 36% to 34%, and Rep. Wesley Hunt trailing at 26%. Overall, RealClearPolitics estimates Paxton with a slight lead over Cornyn.