U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a first-term congresswoman known for her sharp rhetoric and civil rights background, has quickly become one of the most prominent Democratic voices in Texas politics as she campaigns for the U.S. Senate.
Crockett, a Dallas Democrat representing Texas’ 30th Congressional District, announced her Senate bid in December, entering a high-profile primary and reshaping the party’s strategy in a state long dominated by Republicans. Her candidacy follows a rapid political ascent that has taken her from the Texas House to Congress in just a few years.
Born in St. Louis, Crockett is a trained attorney who earned her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Before entering politics, she worked as a public defender and civil rights lawyer, experiences she frequently cites as shaping her views on criminal justice reform, voting rights and economic inequality.
She was elected to the Texas House in 2020, serving one term before winning a crowded Democratic primary in 2022 to succeed longtime U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. Crockett took office in January 2023 and quickly gained national attention through her confrontational questioning in congressional hearings and frequent media appearances.
In Congress, Crockett has focused on issues including voting access, reproductive rights and government accountability. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the Agriculture Committee, roles that have helped raise her profile among Democratic activists nationwide.
Her Senate campaign centers on mobilizing voters who historically turn out at lower rates, particularly Black, Latino and younger Texans. Crockett has argued that expanding turnout, rather than appealing to conservative voters, offers Democrats their best chance to compete statewide.
The race has already had ripple effects across Texas politics. Former congressman Colin Allred exited the Democratic Senate primary shortly after Crockett entered the contest, narrowing the field. Early polling has suggested Crockett holds an advantage among Democratic primary voters, though the general election remains an uphill battle for Democrats in Texas.
Supporters view Crockett as a bold, unapologetic candidate who energizes the party’s base, while critics question whether her confrontational style can attract the crossover support needed to win statewide office.
If elected, Crockett would become one of Texas’ most influential Democrats in decades. For now, her Senate run has cemented her status as a rising figure in both state and national Democratic politics.