Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is openly signaling that Texas Democrats, particularly Black voters, have yet to coalesce behind Senate nominee James Talarico, and she will not attend next weeks state party convention.
According to Breitbart, Texas Democrats are set to convene in Corpus Christi in a carefully staged attempt to showcase unity and generate enthusiasm for Talaricos bid to unseat Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, yet one of the partys most visible figures is choosing to stay away. Crockett, who was defeated by Talarico in the March Democrat Senate primary, told the Dallas Morning News she will skip the gathering and instead devote her efforts to supporting down-ballot candidates across the country.
The Dallas congresswoman openly questioned whether Democrats and especially Black voters are genuinely rallying behind Talarico and the rest of the statewide slate. Ive not heard a bunch of kumbaya, Crockett said. People dont seem to be convinced at this point, but theres a lot of time between now and November.
Pressed on whether she would actively campaign for Talarico, Crockett declined to offer any assurance that she would help the partys chosen nominee. I have no idea. I am more focused on down-ballot races in general, she said.
Crockett also pushed back on claims that she had turned down a formal invitation to the convention, portraying Talaricos outreach as little more than a perfunctory gesture. She said Talarico left what she described as an afterthought invite earlier this month and made no effort to follow up.
I had a missed call that Ive not returned, nor have I listened to the message from Talarico, Crockett told the newspaper. It seemed like an afterthought invite.
Talaricos campaign, for its part, insists he personally called Crockett and left a message inviting her to deliver the conventions keynote address, a role that would have symbolized party unity. Since his primary victory, Talarico has repeatedly urged Democrats to close ranks, campaigning alongside Black candidates and touting endorsements from organizations that helped mobilize Black voters during the primary.
Even so, Crocketts decision to stay away denies Democrats a high-profile show of solidarity as they head into a challenging general election fight against Paxton, a staunch conservative ally of President Trumps agenda. Crockett further voiced doubts about the partys fundraising strength, warning that national donors may decide their money goes further in cheaper races outside Texas.
If for some reason theres a surge, I dont think its going to be because of anyone on this ticket, Crockett said. Itll be because of the overall environment, and that may be enough.
Texas Democrat Party Chairman Kendall Scudder dismissed any suggestion that the party is fractured, insisting the base remains motivated despite the internal tensions. Theres great energy for Democrats all across the state, Scudder said. We see lots of opportunity.
Crockett had publicly conceded after the March primary and urged Democrats to unite behind the nominees, even as pre-election polling had shown her with a comfortable lead before Talaricos upset win. Her current reluctance to embrace the ticket underscores the Democrats ongoing struggle to inspire enthusiasm in a state where Republicans, buoyed by President Trumps second administration and a strong conservative grassroots network, continue to dominate statewide contests.
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