U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is facing criticism from members of her own party after losing the Texas Democratic Senate primary, a race many saw as an opportunity for Democrats to gain momentum in a historically Republican state.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Texas state Rep. James Talarico defeated Crockett in the primary, dealing a setback to Democrats hoping to elect a Democratic U.S. senator from Texas for the first time since 1988.
The loss quickly triggered sharp criticism from some Democratic leaders and political operatives.
Democrats Criticize Campaign Strategy
Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones publicly criticized Crockett’s campaign, arguing that it lacked strong grassroots organization.
“People who don’t understand politics will be upset because Jasmine was their hero,” Jones said. “But for people who understand politics, [Crockett] literally had no ground game.”
Jones also placed responsibility for the defeat squarely on Crockett’s campaign.
“This L is on her,” she said.
An unnamed Black Democratic operative echoed the criticism in comments reported by Politico, describing Crockett’s campaign as poorly organized.
Campaign Pushes Back
Supporters of Crockett, however, rejected the criticism.
Her former deputy campaign manager, Karrol Rimal, said the attacks amount to “Monday morning quarterbacking” and pointed to outside factors that affected the race.
Rimal said the primary became the most expensive Democratic primary in Texas history, with most of the funding directed toward attacking Crockett.
“Despite being outspent, she held our own and excited an untapped base of support for Democrats with record numbers of first-time primary voters,” Rimal said.
He also cited alleged voter suppression in Dallas and Williamson counties as a factor that could have influenced turnout.
Divisions Within the Party
The criticism highlights deeper tensions within the Democratic Party over campaign strategies and messaging in conservative-leaning states like Texas.
Before the race even began, some Democratic strategists questioned whether Crockett — known for her outspoken and combative political style — could win a statewide general election.
Stefanie Brown James, co-founder of the political action group Collective PAC, previously noted that Crockett’s style did not appeal to all factions within the party.
“Even though she has substance, not everybody likes her style,” James said, suggesting that more traditional Democrats sometimes view her approach as too confrontational.
Democrats’ Long Road in Texas
Democrats have struggled to win statewide elections in Texas for decades, with Republicans dominating most major races.
The last time Democrats held a U.S. Senate seat from Texas was 1988, making the state one of the party’s most challenging battlegrounds.
While the primary loss marks a setback for Crockett, the broader question now facing Texas Democrats is how to build a coalition strong enough to compete statewide in future elections.
