DALLAS, TEXAS — In a move that stunned even seasoned operatives, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) — one of the most aggressive and recognizable progressive voices in Congress — officially jumped into the 2026 Texas Senate race on Monday, just 90 minutes before the filing deadline, setting up a blockbuster Democratic primary and injecting new volatility into one of next year’s most consequential Senate battles.

Her late entry instantly reshaped the political map. With Democrats hoping to claw back control of a narrowly divided Senate, Texas — long considered a Republican stronghold — may now become the chamber’s most unpredictable fight.

“The gloves have been off.”

At a fiery announcement event in Dallas, Crockett made clear this campaign will be a direct confrontation with Donald Trump and the Republicans aligned with him.

“I’m done watching the American dream on life support while Trump tries to pull the plug,” Crockett told supporters.
“The gloves have been off, and now I’m jumping into the ring.”

She said internal polling — which indicated she was a stronger statewide candidate than expected — convinced her to leap in at the eleventh hour.

“This was never my intention,” she insisted. “But the data was clear… the numbers were strongest for my candidacy.”

The 44-year-old civil rights attorney and House Oversight firebrand framed the race as a “life-or-death moment” for Texas.

A Democratic Shake-Up — and a Clearer Path

Crockett’s decision came hours after former Rep. Colin Allred abruptly exited the race, saying a divisive primary would risk Democrats’ chances in November. He’ll run for his old House seat instead.

That leaves Crockett facing only one remaining serious Democratic rival: State Rep. James Talarico, himself a rising star with a broad grassroots network.

Talarico welcomed Crockett politely but pointedly:

“Our movement is rooted in unity over division,” he said. “We welcome her into this race.”

Democratic leaders echoed that message, calling the contest a sign of a “healthy party.”

A Republican Civil War Brewing

The GOP side is anything but unified.

Three Republicans — longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt — are locked in an increasingly bitter primary. The brawl could easily spill into a runoff, draining GOP resources.

Cornyn, once dominant, is being squeezed by Paxton’s MAGA base and Hunt’s movement conservatives. The party privately fears a Paxton nomination could put the seat in play, given his decade of scandals and ongoing legal troubles.

Republicans wasted no time attacking Crockett.

NRSC spokesperson Joanna Gonzalez said:

“Jasmine Crockett leading her primary is the latest sign Democrats are being run by radical leftists.”

The RNC piled on, calling her “an embarrassment to Texas.”

A Nationally Known Firebrand — And a GOP Target

Since arriving in Congress in 2022, Crockett has become one of the Democratic Party’s most viral personalities, known for sharp clapbacks during House hearings and social media skirmishes — including her infamous “bleach blonde, bad-built butch body” zinger at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Her high visibility thrills the left but energizes Republicans.

Her biggest liabilities include:

Past comments mocking Gov. Greg Abbott as “Gov. Hot Wheels”

Repeated comparisons of Trump to Hitler

Accusations of GOP “fascism”

Willingness to swing — hard — at Texas conservatives

Republicans are already salivating at using those moments in attack ads.

But Crockett also has advantages:

A huge online following

Powerful fundraising machine

Backing from several national progressive groups

Visibility from appearing at the 2024 Democratic National Convention

She was also personally mentored by Kamala Harris, who praised her in her memoir 107 Days.

Why Crockett Jumped — and Why It Matters

Crockett acknowledged she could have coasted safely in her Dallas House seat for years. But once Democratic models showed Texas could flip under the right conditions, she felt obligated to run.

The stakes? Massive.

Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994.
But population shifts, Trump fatigue in suburbs, and a fractured GOP give Democrats a narrow but real opportunity.

If Democrats win Texas, they almost certainly win the Senate.

The Road Ahead

The primary is March 3. Crockett’s entry moves the race into:

A two-person Democratic showdown

A three-way GOP war likely heading to a runoff

A nationalized race watched by every strategist in Washington

Crockett ended her announcement with a rallying cry:

“Texas is a big boy state made up of brawlers with a moral code. Our representation should reflect that.”

Whether that resonates statewide — or backfires — will determine whether Democrats pulled off a masterstroke… or walked into a trap set by Republicans who wanted her to be the nominee.