Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, drew criticism after her Feuling Individual Rights Everywhere (FIRE) PAC released a list of endorsed candidates that did not include James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas. Crockett clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that she had not actively campaigned for Talarico, emphasizing her focus on down-ballot candidates instead.
In response to queries about her stance, Crockett stated that efforts to oppose Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Talarico’s Republican opponent, would be more productive than addressing endorsement questions. Her post followed the PAC’s endorsement list, which excluded Talarico despite his status as the party’s nominee.
Talarico leads Paxton in recent polling, with a Big Data Poll showing him ahead 44.6% to 41.6% among likely Texas voters when excluding those who only “lean” toward a candidate. A Texas Public Opinion Research survey placed Talarico at 49% to Paxton’s 44%, while a Texas Southern University poll showed a narrower margin of 47% to 46%, with Libertarian candidate Ted Brown at 3%. All polls were conducted in September with varying sample sizes and margins of error.
Reactions to Crockett’s decision
Criticism of Crockett’s omission came from former Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., who posted on X that Crockett’s actions reflected personal reservations over party success. Wild stated, “F** her. That’s all I can say… It has everything to do with her being a narcissistic drama queen who has used her platform only to advance herself.”*
Crockett responded by noting she had congratulated Talarico after he defeated her in the March primary. She added, “Y’all are corny! Keep it up.”
Political analysts weigh in
Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, suggested that a formal endorsement from Crockett could help bridge divisions within the Democratic Party. “A formal, full-throated endorsement from Representative Crockett would go a long way to the reconciliation the party needs if it’s going to be competitive in this cycle and future cycles,” Rottinghaus stated. “They won’t always be running against an unpopular Republican. Unity is key for Democrats to be competitive in purple Texas.”
Background on the race
Talarico, who narrowly leads Paxton in polling, is vying to become the first Democrat elected to a statewide office in Texas since 1994. The race has drawn national attention as Democrats seek to capitalize on Paxton’s unpopularity amid ongoing legal challenges. Talarico’s campaign and Crockett’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Newsweek.
The FIRE PAC’s endorsement list included 14 candidates but omitted Talarico, despite his status as the party’s Senate nominee. Crockett has not actively campaigned for Talarico, focusing instead on local and county-level endorsements.
Polling details
- Big Data Poll: 698 likely Texas voters (September); Talarico 44.6%, Paxton 41.6% (excluding leaners).
- Texas Public Opinion Research: 1,007 likely voters (September 19–22); Talarico 49%, Paxton 44%.
- Texas Southern University: 1,800 likely voters (September 15–19); Talarico 47%, Paxton 46%, Brown 3% (margin of error: 2.31%).