After much speculation, Dallas-area U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has officially filed to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by longtime GOP incumbent John Cornyn.
Crockett filed just in time for the Monday, December 8 filing deadline.
The Democratic primary will pit the outspoken Crockett against another rising star in the state’s party, Texas State Rep. James Talarico, who represents Austin but once taught at a school in San Antonio.
However, fellow North Texas Democrat Colin Allred dropped out Monday morning to run in the state’s redrawn Congressional District 33, making the primary just a little less crowded.
Even so, Talarico makes a formidable opponent in the primary, having already outraised both Cornyn and Allred within the first two weeks of announcing his candidacy. His number of online followers also rivals the highly viral and sharp-tongued Crockett, boasting 1.7 million Instagram followers to her 1.9 million.
Nonetheless, Talarico said Monday that he has no plans to turn the primary into a bloodbath.
“Our movement is built on unity, not division,” he said during an event hosted by BigTentUSA a few hours before Crockett filed. “So we welcome Congresswoman Crockett or any other candidates to jump in the race. Competition makes us all stronger for the general election.”
Whoever wins the primary will either face off against Cornyn or his opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, an unflinching Trump ally.
Crockett has stated in the past that she sees a path to victory against the scandal-mired Paxton in the general but worries it would be an almost hopeless fight against the firmly entrenched incumbent.
“I’m going to be flat out with you and tell you that I don’t think that there’s a Democrat that can take out Cornyn,” Crockett told Politico in October. “For me, I would be making a very last-minute decision [jumping in the race], because it’s not just about winning the primary. You gotta win the general.”
Crockett publicly stated that she spent “a lot of money” on polling before committing to joining the Senate race. Though she didn’t state the amount, FEC filings show she paid more than $220,000 in June to digital consulting firm Blue Chip Strategies in three separate payments.
The Congresswoman’s announcement also comes after the Supreme Court ruled that Texas’ new GOP-friendly map can stay in place while it faces a legal challenge. With the new map still standing, Crockett has been forced out of her own district, likely contributing to her decision to seek higher office.
Crockett’s campaign spending recently came under scrutiny by right-wing news outlets for expenses including limos, stays at the Ritz Carlton and private security.
However, her supporters are quick to point out that Crockett largely takes Lyft, stays at mid-range hotels such as Marriott and Hilton and has to pay for her own security due to the death threats she’s received from white supremacists.
“Breaking News: Black Congresswoman, who constantly receives death threats from white supremacists, pays out of her own pocket for security and safe lodging while white supremacist president spends taxpayer money trafficking children,” Elizabeth Booker Houston, an attorney and political commentator, wrote on Threads.
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