Washington, D.C. – December 9, 2025 — In a surprising move that shakes up the 2026 midterm landscape, Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett of Dallas has officially filed paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn. The filing, dated December 8, follows fellow Texas Democrat Colin Allred’s decision to withdraw from the Senate race for this cycle, clearing a potential path for Crockett in the Democratic primary.
Crockett, 44, has represented Texas’s 30th Congressional District since 2023, succeeding the late Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. She has built a national profile through her fiery rhetoric and high-profile confrontations with Republican colleagues—most notably her viral 2024 exchange with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a House Oversight Committee hearing. In that memorable clash, Crockett quipped about Greene’s appearance, a retort that dominated social media and late-night television for weeks and cemented her reputation as a sharp-tongued progressive fighter.
By entering the Senate race, Crockett is giving up her safe Democratic House seat in a heavily blue Dallas district and instead taking on a daunting statewide challenge in ruby-red Texas. The state, which President Donald Trump won by more than 14 percentage points in the 2024 election, has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988. Cornyn, a three-term incumbent and former Senate Majority Whip, is seeking re-election amid a crowded Republican primary field that includes several conservative challengers attempting to outflank him on the right.
In her campaign announcement, Crockett emphasized a platform centered on issues she considers critical to everyday Texans. “This race is about protecting our families from the epidemic of gun violence, safeguarding Social Security and Medicare for our seniors, and ensuring rural communities have access to quality healthcare,” Crockett said in a press release. “Texas deserves a senator who fights for the people, not special interests. I’m ready to take on the tough battles in Washington to deliver real results.”
Early polling from independent firms such as Emerson College and the University of Texas at Austin shows Crockett leading the Democratic primary field by a comfortable margin, buoyed by her name recognition and strong support among urban and minority voters. However, general election surveys suggest a steep uphill battle, with Cornyn maintaining double-digit leads over hypothetical Democratic opponents in a state where Republicans continue to dominate statewide offices.
Crockett’s entry into the race aligns with Allred’s withdrawal, which he attributed to a desire to focus on family and new opportunities following his unsuccessful 2024 Senate bid against Sen. Ted Cruz. Political analysts say Allred’s exit may consolidate Democratic support behind Crockett, though she could still face primary competition from state legislators or activist candidates.
On the Republican side, Cornyn is facing internal pressure from within his own party. Critics have accused him of being insufficiently conservative on issues such as immigration and fiscal policy, fueling speculation about potential primary challengers, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton or other Trump-aligned figures. Cornyn’s campaign has already raised more than $20 million, reinforcing his status as a formidable fundraiser.
Crockett’s bid adds intrigue to what is shaping up to be a pivotal 2026 cycle, with control of the Senate potentially hanging in the balance. Democrats currently hold a slim majority, and flipping a Texas seat would be a long-shot upset that could energize the party’s base nationwide.
As the race unfolds, Crockett’s combative style and progressive priorities will be tested against Cornyn’s establishment credentials and Texas’s conservative political landscape. Campaign finance reports due in early 2026 will offer the first glimpse into her fundraising strength—an essential factor in mounting a competitive statewide campaign in such a vast and expensive state.
Wesley Hunt will be the next Republican Senator from The Great State of Texas.