Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett has filed paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas, setting up a primary matchup ahead of the March 3, 2026 election.
The seat is currently held by Sen. John Cornyn. Crockett is expected to make her formal announcement this evening, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.
According to CBS News Texas, Crockett filed the paperwork on Monday, “hours ahead of a planned news conference where she is set to announce her plans.”
The announcement is scheduled to take place 90 minutes before Texas’s 6 p.m. CT filing deadline for candidates entering the 2026 primary.
Crockett will face state Rep. James Talarico of Austin in the Democratic primary. His campaign has gained national attention and reported raising a record $6.2 million in the first three weeks after launching.
Following Crockett’s filing, Talarico released a statement saying:
“We’re building a movement in Texas — fueled by record-breaking grassroots fundraising and 10,000 volunteers who are putting in the work to defeat the billionaire mega-donors and puppet politicians who have taken over our state. Our movement is rooted in unity over division — so we welcome Congresswoman Crockett into this race.”
Former Rep. Colin Allred dropped out of the race earlier Monday ahead of Crockett’s expected announcement, positioning her as the top candidate in the Democratic field.
Polling released in recent weeks indicates that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is outperforming likely Democratic challengers, including Crockett, in statewide matchups.
Additional polling shows Cornyn, Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt holding 26%, 25%, and 24% support, respectively, in a potential Republican primary.
Crockett leads the Democratic field in the latest University of Houston/Texas Southern University survey.
She recently appeared on MS Now, the weekend after Thanksgiving, saying she was “closer to yes than I am no” when asked about entering the race.
During previous interviews, including one with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Crockett said she believed she could defeat Paxton in a general election, citing internal polling.
She had earlier indicated she would make a decision by Thanksgiving. The campaign buildup included public teasing of her potential run, with segments noting that her self-described selling point in the race was the color of her skin.
