Breaking: Jasmine Crockett Officially Launches Senate Campaign, Targets Republican John Cornyn's Seat

Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas formally launched her bid Monday for the U.S. Senate, setting up a high-profile clash for a seat long held by Republicans and now central to Democrats’ uphill fight to retake control of the chamber in 2026.

Crockett is targeting the seat currently occupied by Sen. John Cornyn, a veteran Texas Republican who is running for another term. But before Cornyn can face any Democrat, he must first navigate a competitive GOP primary that includes Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt — a matchup that has already energized Republican voters across the state.

Crockett currently represents Texas’ 30th congressional district, a deeply blue slice of Dallas. While the district was adjusted under a new legislative map adopted in August, its partisan makeup remains safely Democratic — giving Crockett a stable base from which to mount her statewide campaign.

A University of Houston–Texas Southern University poll released in October shows Crockett leading the field of confirmed and speculative Democratic contenders with 31 percent. She is followed by state Rep. James Talarico and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, each at 25 percent, while former Congressman Colin Allred sits at 13 percent.

Allred abruptly exited the Senate contest Monday, announcing that he will pursue a House seat instead. According to CNN, Crockett had asked “Allred to drop out of the race, and has cited a poll in some conversations that shows her in strong shape.”

Allred previously mounted an expensive, nationally hyped challenge against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz last year — but ultimately lost by nearly 9 percentage points, a result that reinforced Texas’ solid red shift under President Donald Trump’s renewed leadership.

On the Republican side of the Senate race, the University of Houston survey shows Paxton narrowly leading with 34 percent support, Cornyn close behind at 33 percent, and Hunt at 22 percent, with 11 percent still undecided. The numbers signal a turbulent yet high-energy primary season as Texas Republicans choose who will defend the seat against Democrats’ increasingly aggressive efforts.

To reclaim the Senate majority next November, Democrats would need a net gain of four seats — a steep climb that assumes they hold every vulnerable position elsewhere. Crockett’s entrance into the race underscores her party’s desperation to find a viable statewide contender in a GOP stronghold reshaped by Trump-era resilience and conservative momentum.