Jasmine Crockett Says She’s Weighing 2026 Texas Senate Bid
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Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) says she’s “strongly” considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2026, pointing to polling that shows her competitive in a Democratic primary and to uncertainty created by a court fight over Texas’ new congressional map.
In a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s Lurie Daniel Favors Show, Crockett said, “Every other day, there’s a poll that comes out that makes it clear that I can win the primary for the U.S. Senate race in Texas,” adding that if redistricting ultimately strips her of her current House seat, “there has to be some karma in that to where I take your seat that is for 30 million away.”
Crockett said her decision hinges on whether Democrats can broaden the electorate beyond habitual voters. “The question will be whether or not we believe that we’ve got enough juice to expand the electorate… If we can expand the electorate, then I will strongly be considering hopping in the Senate race,” she said.
Her comments come as the 2026 contest to challenge Republican Sen. John Cornyn takes shape. On the Democratic side, declared candidates include former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, and state Rep. James Talarico, who launched a bid this fall. Recent polling has shown Crockett atop a hypothetical primary field despite not announcing a run.
Republicans, meanwhile, are bracing for a contentious primary. Cornyn faces a challenge from Rep. Wesley Hunt, with Attorney General Ken Paxton also factored into early polling. Cornyn retains a significant cash advantage heading into the cycle.
If Crockett enters—and if Democrats hold their 2024 gains, the Senate next year could feature an unprecedented number of Black women. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) were elected in 2024, marking a historic milestone.
Crockett, a high-profile critic of former President Donald Trump and frequent sparring partner of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, gained viral attention after a fiery House Oversight exchange that spawned a trademarked phrase later linked to her.
Crockett has not set a timeline for a formal decision. For now, she says she’s testing whether she can mobilize rarely-counted voters in a state Democrats have long hoped to flip.
