If You Can’t Be A King Be A Kingmaker
By James W. Breedlove
Who is more powerful: a king or a kingmaker? Anyone can become a king, a king eventually will lose his position over a period of time. Whereas a kingmaker, can make many kings.
If ever there was an opportune time to analyze the adage “politics makes strange bedfellows,” then the tepid relationship between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and Texas Senate candidate Democrat JamesTalarico is worth examining.
Congresswoman Crockett is in a perfect position to be a national political Kingmaker. However, she seems to be letting sour grapes or personal ego undermine this golden opportunity that has been hand delivered to her doorstep. Perhaps the modicum of political notoriety that she has already received has blinded her to the limitless power that is hers for the taking.
It has been over thirty years since a Democrat has won a statewide political office in Texas.
Lloyd Benson was the last elected Democratic senator from Texas, winning his final term in 1988. When Senator Benson resigned in 1993 to become President Clinton’s treasury secretary Bob Krueger served as interim senator for five months before losing the June 1993 special election to Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison. Republicans have controlled Texas state politics since then.
In March 2026 Congresswoman Crockett lost her primary bid for U.S. Senate to State Representative James Talarico. While this primary defeat denied Congresswoman Crockett the opportunity to be a “Senator King” it opened the door for her to be a “Senator Kingmaker”.
The upcoming November race between Democrat JamesTalarico and Republican Ken Paxton has been statistically neck and neck since the March primaries. While polls have shown Talarico in a slight lead, the margin between the two candidates has ranged from 1 percent to 6 percent, and is currently at 2 percent.
It is significant to note that Talarico’s margin decline from 6 percent to 2 percent coincides with the influx of money from Republican Kingmaker Elon Musk. Political activists like Elon Musk use massive financial resources and direct control over major communication platforms to sway public opinion toward the candidate they support.
Elon Musk’s political action committee has spent more than $1.6 million to boost Republican Ken Paxton. Rest assured, that the Musk team is carefully monitoring the daily polls and if more financing is needed to tip the scale in favor of Ken Paxton it will be provided.
Musk, for his part, has a huge personal financial stake in the state and this election. The headquarters of Tesla, SpaceX and X are all based in Texas.
Musk desperately wants and needs this political connection to support his own ambitions..
It is understandable how a mere mortal might capitulate to this onslaught of money and overwhelming publicity. But Jasmine Crockett, you are reminded that in the political arena you are not a mere mortal. You are the essence of and have the potential to be the protagonist giant slayer in the forthcoming mid term epic of David vs Goliath.
Your destiny is to be a political Kingmaker. But it will not be realized using half hearted measures or part time efforts.
Yes, you lost the primary but you retain the powerful national profile you developed fighting for the people during your short but eventful tenure in congress. You announced your Fuel Individual Rights Everywhere (FIRE) PAC that focuses on grassroots organizing to support progressive and like-minded candidates nationwide. These are the basic tools of a political Kingmaker and must be totally and skillfully applied to the Texas mid-terms for maximum effect.
While you have pledged to help Democrats in this November mid-term election by getting involved in lesser publicized down ballot races you have sidestepped any specific plans to support your former foe, James Talarico. This is a huge mistake for a potential Kingmaker.
It is time for Jasmine Crockett to stop playing the guessing game and let it be known that, “I’m In It To Win It”. Do not give up on your plans for supporting the down ticket but let the news reports also show that your full attention and resources are behind Senate Candidate James Talarico.
You need Texas voters to be fully aware that the 30 year Democratic drought is over because the new Kingmaker, Jasmine Crockett, is embracing and endorsing Talarico.
The time is right. While you may not be able to match Elon Musk dollar for dollar on the Texas Senate race you have the ground crew in place that knows the people, that knows their struggles, that knows their needs. Basic needs that have not been addressed for the past 30 years by the Republican cabal dedicated to making the rich richer. You also know how to get that message out to the voters.
Remember, the national spotlight for the next 30 days is going to be focused on the Texas Talarico/Paxton race. In the final analysis, when the several polling points delivered by Elon Musk are neutralized by the points delivered by the Jasmine Crockett team, a new national political Kingmaker will be anointed on November 4th.
Jasmine Crockett are you up to the task?
James W. Breedlove is a decorated veteran, philanthropist, businessman and Texas Metro News contributor. He can be reached at thebreed@swbell.net
