Jasmine Crockett Enters Texas U.S. Senate Race for 2026, Challenging Incumbent and GOP Primary Field
Jasmine Crockett, a 44-year-old Dallas-area Democrat, civil rights lawyer, and two-term House member, has filed paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate in Texas for 2026. She is set to officially announce her campaign near the March 3 Texas primary filing deadline. Crockett won her House seat in 2022 after the retirement of Eddie Bernice Johnson and is known for her vocal challenges to former President Donald Trump.
The Texas Senate race features incumbent Senator John Cornyn alongside Republican challengers Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt in the GOP primary. On the Democratic side, former Representative Colin Allred ended his 2026 Senate bid to seek re-election to the House, while state Representative James Talarico remains in the Democratic primary. An NRSC-paid poll indicated that Crockett would be the Democratic primary frontrunner by double digits.
A recent Supreme Court ruling upheld Texas's congressional map, adding five GOP-leaning districts, which helps shape the 2026 midterm electoral landscape. Crockett's candidacy could shift the dynamics of the race by potentially energizing Democrats or influencing GOP primary strategy. Given the competitive field, a runoff may occur if no candidate secures over 50% in the primary.
