Crockett Says Elevating Down-Ballot Democrats Could Give Texas Voters More Reasons to Turn Out Beyond a Single Statewide Race
Rep. Jasmine Crockett is making clear where she plans to spend her political capital heading into November, which is helping Democrats farther down the Texas ballot.
The Dallas Democrat, who lost the Democratic U.S. Senate primary to state Rep. James Talarico earlier this year, said Thursday that she intends to concentrate on candidates who might otherwise be overshadowed by the closely watched Senate contest between Talarico and Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Asked by CNN host Laura Coates whether she would campaign alongside Talarico, Crockett gave a direct answer.
“I will be campaigning down ballot,” Crockett said.
Her response comes as Talarico and Paxton head into what has become an unusually competitive Texas Senate race, with Democrats hoping to win their first statewide election in decades. Recent polling and race ratings have shown the contest tightening.
Crockett Says Texas Democrats Need More Than One Big Race
Crockett argued that Democrats have previously poured enormous attention, money and organizing power into one candidate at the top of the ticket without ultimately breaking Republicans’ statewide winning streak.
She pointed to Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 campaign against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, when O’Rourke came close to winning but still fell short.
“We’ve tried this,” Crockett said. “We’ve had one amazing candidate that’s running at the top of the ticket. Raising all the money, doing all the things, running around the entire state, but it’s not enough.”
Instead, Crockett said voters need reasons to care about races throughout the ballot.
“For me, I don’t think it should be a matter of one thing that is getting me to the polls,” she said. “I think it has to be something that’s a little bit more in a state like Texas.”
That means introducing voters to candidates who receive less media attention and using her profile to help them build name recognition.
Crockett said elevating several candidates could give voters additional motivation to turn out even when enthusiasm around one particular race is not enough.
The strategy also reflects Crockett’s argument that Democrats cannot build lasting political power in Texas solely through high-dollar statewide campaigns. Instead, she is emphasizing races for Congress, the Legislature and local offices that could strengthen the party’s infrastructure over time.
FIRE PAC Gives Crockett Another Political Platform
Crockett’s shift toward down-ballot races did not begin with Thursday’s interview.
After losing the Senate primary, she announced FIRE PAC, short for Fuel Individual Rights Everywhere, a leadership political action committee aimed at supporting other candidates.
Candidates backed by Crockett scored a series of victories during the May primary runoffs, giving the congresswoman another vehicle for maintaining political influence as her current House tenure approaches its end.
Her PAC has endorsed congressional candidates along with state and local contenders in Texas, and a spokesman told The Washington Post that additional endorsements are expected as Democrats work to strengthen their presence in the Legislature and county-level offices.
Crockett said campaigning for those candidates is also something she was largely unable to do while running her own statewide campaign earlier this year.
Her decision nevertheless highlights the lingering political dynamics following a Democratic primary that became increasingly contentious.
Talarico defeated Crockett after a race in which questions surrounding race, gender and the direction of the Democratic Party frequently surfaced. Since then, Crockett has pledged support for the Democratic nominee but has largely remained outside his campaign operation.
Talarico Says Crockett Is Doing Work Democrats Need
Talarico, meanwhile, has publicly avoided criticizing Crockett for concentrating elsewhere.
“She is now helping down-ballot candidates all over the state, which is critical if we’re gonna build the movement we need at a deep level in communities across Texas,” Talarico told TheGrio in July.
He said winning the Senate election remains his responsibility as the Democratic nominee.
Also Read: ‘I Don’t Know’: Jasmine Crockett Remains Skeptical Talarico Can Win Texas U.S. Senate Seat
“She is doing the work [and] she has done more than enough to help us,” Talarico said. “Winning this campaign is my job as the Democratic nominee, and we’re grateful for the Congresswoman’s support.”
Talarico also said Crockett would be welcome on the campaign trail if she changes course.
“She’s one of the most talented campaigners in the country,” he said. “I know she’s focused on down-ballot candidates, but she has an open invitation to join me anytime.”
The distinction could become increasingly important as November approaches.
Texas Republicans have dominated statewide politics for decades, but the Paxton-Talarico contest has emerged as one of the country’s more competitive Senate races. At the same time, Crockett appears intent on testing a different theory of how Democrats can eventually change Texas politics and build from farther down the ballot rather than depending on one candidate to carry the entire ticket.
