The congresswoman’s absence highlights lingering tensions after her Senate primary loss to James Talarico. Crockett says she’s not sure Democrats have united fully behind the nominee and the rest of the ticket.
Texas Democrats will gather next week in Corpus Christi, seeking to project unity and build momentum behind state Rep. James Talarico’s Senate campaign.
One of the party’s most recognizable stars won’t be there.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas, who lost a hard-fought Senate primary to Talarico in March, told The Dallas Morning News she does not plan to attend the state convention and instead is focusing on helping down-ballot candidates across the country.
Crockett also said she’s not sure whether Democrats, particularly Black voters, have united fully behind Talarico and the rest of the ticket. She said the lack of a Black nominee for major statewide office could dampen enthusiasm among some voters.
“I’ve not heard a bunch of kumbaya,” she said. “People don’t seem to be convinced at this point, but there’s a lot of time between now and November.”
Asked whether she would actively campaign for or with Talarico, Crockett said: “I have no idea. I am more focused on down-ballot races in general.”
Crockett’s absence from the convention reflects a lingering divide between her and Talarico, who served together in the Texas House and became rivals during the hotly contested Senate race. He faces Republican Ken Paxton in November.
She said she received what she described as an “afterthought invite” on June 8 from Talarico, based on the preview message on her cell phone.
“I had a missed call that I’ve not returned, nor have I listened to the message from Talarico,” Crockett told The News. “It seemed like an afterthought invite. I can’t say for sure, because I haven’t listened to it.”
According to Talarico’s campaign, he called Crockett and left a message suggesting she make the keynote speech at the convention.
In a statement to The News, Talarico said that “Texans are coming together…to do something extraordinary.”
“We are going to end 31 years of one-party rule and give hope to so many people in this state who have been left behind by this political system rigged by billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians,” he said.
His campaign also said that the party sets the convention agenda, not him.
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder said the party contacted members of Crockett’s staff and that she has had an invitation to the convention since March.
“She has certainly been invited to the convention and continues to have a standing invite,” Scudder said. “We would love to have her there.”
Crockett and many of her supporters were disappointed by the narrative advanced by some of Talarico’s supporters that Crockett, an outspoken Black woman, could not win statewide office in Texas. She had hoped to become the first Black woman nominated for U.S. Senate in the state’s history.
Call for solidarity
Since winning the primary, Talarico has called for party unity and attempted to shore up his support with Black voters. He has racked up endorsements and campaigned with Black candidates on November’s ballot. He’s also tried to strike a conciliatory tone with Crockett.
Talarico has emphasized coalition-building, telling supporters that “we’re going to have to come together if we’re going to win in November.”
He is endorsed by the Texas Organizing Project, the grassroots group that mobilizes Black and Latino voters and helped propel Crockett’s field operation in the primary.
But Crockett’s absence from the convention is a missed opportunity for a show of party unity.
Also missing from the convention lineup is former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas, the 2024 Senate nominee and now the party’s candidate for Texas’ 33rd Congressional District.
Allred was not invited to the convention. During the primary, he accused Talarico of referring to him as a “mediocre Black man,” a racially charged remark that Talarico said was mischaracterized.
Scudder, the party chairman, said “We did not invite every member of Congress and every congressional candidate to speak at our convention.”
“We have limited space, of course,” Scudder said, adding that “we would love for Colin Allred to be at our convention, but it’s up to him and his team” whether he attends.
Money headwinds
In the interview with The News, Crockett didn’t rule out Talarico’s chances in November against Paxton, the attorney general. But she said donors outside Texas may be more inclined to spend money in less expensive races in other states.
“If for some reason there’s a surge, I don’t think it’s going to be because of anyone on this ticket,” Crockett said. “It’ll be because of the overall environment, and that may be enough.”
For her part, Crockett has been trying to boost candidates through her Fueling Individual Rights Everywhere political action committee, or FIRE PAC. Such leadership PACs represent a fundraising mechanism in which politicians collect donations and distribute them to other candidates.
Scudder said Democrats were ready to win. “There’s great energy for Democrats all across the state,” he said. “We see lots of opportunity.”
Political Writer
The Howard University graduate and Chicago native has covered four presidential campaigns and written extensively about local, state and national politics. Before The News, he was a reporter at The Kansas City Star and The Chicago Defender. You can catch Gromer every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on NBC 5’s Lone Star Politics.
