U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has sharply criticized longtime Senator John Cornyn, arguing that Texas needs new leadership that represents everyday Texans rather than entrenched political power.
In remarks resurfacing from her campaign to become Texas’ next U.S. senator, Crockett took direct aim at Cornyn’s four decades in public office, questioning both his longevity and loyalty to voters. She framed the race as a choice between what she described as career politics and a renewed commitment to public service.
“John Cornyn has spent 41 years in elected office,” Crockett said in the clip. “He’s been an elected official since I was three years old.”
She went on to accuse the Republican senator of benefiting from what she called “three fat pensions” paid for by taxpayers, in addition to his Senate salary, arguing that such long tenure has distanced him from the people he represents.
Crockett, a Democrat from Dallas, suggested that Cornyn has lost sight of his responsibility to Texas’ roughly 30 million residents.
“After four decades and four fat checks every month, Cornyn has forgotten who sent him to the Senate,” she said, adding that he now serves political interests rather than Texans.
Her sharpest swipe centered on Cornyn’s political evolution. Crockett accused him of abandoning earlier positions, particularly his past criticism of former President Donald Trump and opposition to a border wall, in favor of near-total alignment with Trump’s agenda.
She mocked Cornyn’s campaign messaging touting that he votes with Trump “99 percent of the time,” arguing that the remaining “one percent problem” is his alleged prioritization of wealthy elites over working Americans.
“At a time such as this, we cannot afford to have a senator who cowers away from a fight worth fighting,” Crockett said, positioning herself as a more aggressive advocate for working families. She promised to be “tougher on behalf of all 30 million Texans,” stressing economic fairness and accountability.
Crockett’s remarks reflect a broader effort by Democrats to challenge long-serving incumbents by framing them as out of touch with voters amid shifting political dynamics in Texas. Cornyn, a fixture of Texas politics since the 1980s, has not directly responded to Crockett’s comments.
As the Senate race begins to take shape, Crockett’s blunt rhetoric signals that she intends to run a confrontational campaign, drawing sharp contrasts with Cornyn’s record and longevity in office.
