Sore loser Rep. Jasmine Crockett has revealed she’s not jumping at the opportunity to stump for Texas Senate primary winner and onetime foe James Talarico — while questioning his support among black voters.
Talarico’s campaign said the winning candidate recently personally phoned the lefty firebrand, who lost to him in the Democratic primary in March, and left a voice message inviting her to give a keynote speech at the party’s upcoming convention.
But Crockett told the Dallas Morning News late last week that she didn’t even listen to the message, ripping it as an “afterthought invite,” and indicated she doesn’t plan to attend the convention.
The retiring lefty Dem added she doesn’t know if she will actively campaign for Talarico at all — and fumed at the party backlash she is already receiving over her stance.
“I have no idea. I am more focused on down-ballot races in general,” she sniffed to the outlet.
The outgoing congresswoman also cast doubt on whether black voters will rally around Talarico.
“I’ve not heard a bunch of kumbaya,” she told the outlet about Talarico’s standing among black voters. “People don’t seem to be convinced at this point.
“But there’s a lot of time between now and November,” she noted.
Talarico has the backing of multiple prominent black leaders in Texas, including state Rep. Christian Manuel, Nacogdoches County Commissioner Sandy McCorvey, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and state Sen. Royce West.
On Saturday, Crockett reacted to the blowback she received as Texas Democrats hope to put on a united front against GOP Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in their longstanding quest to flip the state’s Senate seat.
“I don’t need anybody else to try to tell me what it is that I’ve been up to,” she seethed in a video response to anger over her snub of Talarico. “I am always speaking my mind openly and honestly.”
The Lone Star State Democrat underscored that she is opposed to Paxton in the general election Senate race and has “never supported a Republican.
“I am not currently running for US Senate, and therefore you will not see me on the trail as if I am running for US Senate,” she said. “I will be helping down-ballot candidates.”
Talarico bested her 52.4% to 46.2% in the March 3 primary, avoiding a runoff against her. Crockett had been a latecomer to the Senate race after redistricting dramatically complicated the likelihood of her winning re-election to the House.
Democrats have long dreamed of flipping a Texas Senate seat blue and believe that Paxton’s many scandals make him particularly vulnerable.
Given that the Dems need to flip four seats and are facing strong incumbent Republicans in their best potential pickup states of Maine, Ohio, and Alaska, the Texas race could prove critical to determining the balance of power in the Senate.
But Crockett argued that down-ballot races are more important than the Senate fight.
“I’ve always been a down-ballot supporter. I’ve always been a team player,” she said, before later adding: “As someone who believes in our democracy, there is nothing that requires me to stay in politics at all.”
She complained that Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) hasn’t faced similar pressure to back oyster farmer Graham Platner for Senate in that state.
“This is crazy. So like, stop giving MAGA exactly what they want,” she groused about the blowback she’s received.
“‘Y’all are still so focused on me. But, like, I’m not running,” she went on. “Maybe use that energy towards Ken Paxton.
“Because last time I checked, no matter how much I end up being part of the conversation, there is one person that is guaranteed not to become the next senator in the state of Texas, and that’s Jasmine Felicia Crockett.”
