Jasmine Crockett in, Colin Allred out: A major shakeup for Democrats in their quest to finally win a Senate seat in TX

[In It to Win It]

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a rising star within the party who has built a reputation as one of President Trump’s fiercest critics in Congress, has joined the race for the U.S. Senate in Texas. She is seeking to unseat Republican Sen. John Cornyn and provide Democrats a critical victory in their pursuit of flipping the Senate in next year’s midterms.

“Today, under Trump and three decades of Republican rule in Texas, those very Texans are under daily attack,” Crockett wrote on her campaign website. “I’m running to protect Texans from these attacks and safeguard the rights our Constitution guarantees.”

Her decision comes just hours after Colin Allred, who led Democrats’ unsuccessful bid to oust Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, announced that he is dropping out of next year’s race.

Allred, who lost to Cruz by more than 8 points last year, didn’t mention Crockett in his statement explaining his decision to drop out of the race. But he did make the case that a “bruising” Democratic primary could undermine their chances of ousting Cornyn in the general election, arguing that his party will need to be “unified” if it stands a chance at pulling off an upset in November.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/article/jasmine-crockett-in-colin-allred-out-a-major-shakeup-for-democrats-in-their-quest-to-finally-win-a-senate-seat-in-texas-214457083.html

[markodochartaigh]

1. "But

he did make the case that a “bruising” Democratic primary could undermine their chances of ousting Cornyn in the general election, arguing that his party will need to be “unified” if it stands a chance at pulling off an upset in November."

I think that this shows how Colin Allred was able to get so close to ousting Cruz. Colin Allred is pragmatic and a class act.

[Polybius]

2. A 9 point loss is "so close?"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_Senate_election_in_Texas

[markodochartaigh]

7. Yes.

For a Republican senator in Texas, 9 points is very close.

And if you didn't realize, Colin Allred is half Black.

[Celerity]

17. He lost by almost 1 million votes. That is not 'so close', even in Texas.

[markodochartaigh]

18. From Wikipedia

"Allred challenged Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in the 2024 United States Senate election in Texas. He was defeated by Cruz in the general election; however, he outran the Democratic presidential ticket in the concurrent presidential election in Texas by 5.5%"

So he performed better than the Democratic presidential candidate. For a Black Democratic candidate in Texas, in my opinion, he did very well. I would call that close.

[Polybius]

23. But in 2018, Cruz vs. Beto was 50.89% to 48.33%

That was close.

[moonshinegnomie]

3. Crockett can't win in texas

Talarico can. That’s what I’m basing my vote on. I like her but the reality is Texas will never elect her

[Boo1]

6. Very early

But Talarico does look to be polling a few points better than Crockett aginst either republican.

[Takket]

8. Agreed. I like her. she's tough and smart... but she's also a black woman, and that's just not going to fly in Texas

We need to run someone white, probably male, and just left of center if we're even going to be close. We've seen some pretty decent candidates run against absolute buffoons like Ted Cruz and still lose. The landscape for Democrats should be better by next fall but I don't see Crockett as viable, and we need to be pragmatic about it.

[PeaceWave]

9. Respectfully, this is a terrible sentiment to express...

What is going to hold back Crockett in Texas is her politics - Not the color of her skin.

[hamsterjill]

14. Do you live in Texas?

The color of her skin will most assuredly hold her back. To deny that is not being realistic. Is it right? Hell no! Is it something the needs to change? Hell yes.

But for this moment in time, it is indeed the unfortunate reality.

[Skittles]

19. what is wrong with her politics?

[hamsterjill]

10. This!

It was a mistake for her to run this time around. I really like her and I'm a lifelong Texan. But Talarico has been getting some well deserved attention and interest. Crockett will now take some of that attention. Republicans will benefit.

My money and my vote will go to Talarico.

[newdeal2]

12. She is supposed to wait for Texas to be less racist or sexist?

Sorry but I don’t understand. What is she supposed to do when she is out of a job next year - wait four years for a shot against Cruz? Let her run her campaign and have the voters decide.

[hamsterjill]

13. The reality is that Texas IS racist and sexist.

Democrats must deal with that reality. It is unfortunate, and I certainly don't like that things are that way. But I've lived here my whole live and they are. It doesn't work to deny it.

She's welcome to run. That is her right. But I think we all know what the outcome is going to be. You're absolutely right. Let the voters decide. But would you care to check back with me after the election? If I'm wrong, I will gladly admit it and be all the happier for it. I think she's great, but I think Talarico is great, too, and i think he has a better shot given the circumstances.

[Jack Valentino]

11. I wish she was running somewhere else but Texas---

but if she could awaken the vast number of Texans who DON'T VOTE,
she could have a chance!

But like you, I'm not too optimistic about that...

[In It to Win It]

16. I'm not optimistic about either one of them.

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. I like both Crockett and Talarico

But I think Talarico would have better odds in the general, unless Paxton wins the GOP nomination, then Crockett would have a shot,

[J_William_Ryan]

5. "Crockett can't win in Texas"

True.

And her opponent would be racism, misogyny, and hate.

[Emile]

15. Senator Jasmine Crockett

I would vote for her.

[DFW]

20. All of us on DU would vote for her

Unfortunately, 5.8 million voters in Texas who lean Republican will not be soliciting our opinion or asking our expert advice.

As a Senator, she’d brilliant. As a candidate in the primary, she would not even be allowed the smallest mistake. The media will be watching and listening. As with Howard Dean in 2004, or Hillary Clinton in 2016, they LOVE to tear down a popular Democratic frontrunner, if they can. It’s like trying to walk a tightrope across the Grand Canyon. One slip, and you’re done, and you don’t get a second chance.

She MIGHT make it. She COULD make it. But the political winds in Texas blow in another direction—for now. The more Trump makes stupid moves, and the more Cornyn backs him up on every one, it increases our chances. But, like Adlai Stevenson supposedly said when told he had the vote of every thinking American, “That’s not enough. I need a majority!”

[moonshinegnomie]

21. The simple facts

A black democrat has won exactly one statewide race in the past 35 years and that may be the only time that has happened.
Texas is a racist state. There are a lot of people who won’t vote for a black here. Both ethics and dems especially outside the major urban areas. If a dem were to wing it won’t be by a lot. And we need the candidate who has the best chance of winning. And in Texas that’s not Crockett. It may be be right but it’s simple reality. And those that dispute that have their head in the sand