Former Democratic Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke flashed a smile Tuesday when asked about the prospect of his fellow Texan, Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, launching a Senate run.
O’Rourke, a previously failed candidate for the upper chamber, signaled that he might support Crockett’s candidacy if she chooses to enter the Senate race, calling the foe of President Donald Trump “fantastic,” according to a video exclusively obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Crockett has not shut the door on entering her state’s 2026 Senate contest following the release of polling first reported by the DCNF that showed the left-wing firebrand would be the runaway frontrunner in the Democratic primary if she jumped into the mix. (RELATED: Jasmine Crockett Holds Healthy Lead In Hypothetical 2026 Senate Race, Shock Poll Shows)
“I think Jasmine Crockett is fantastic, so if that’s what she wants to do more power to her,” O’Rourke said when asked about whether he would support Crockett’s hypothetical candidacy. O’Rourke also mounted failed bids for president in 2020 and for governor in 2022, losing three major races within a span of four years.
Democrats are once again dreaming of flipping Texas blue during the 2026 midterms following a string of unsuccessful runs by O’Rourke and former Democratic Texas Rep. Colin Allred to defeat Republican incumbents. O’Rourke answered “I don’t know” when asked Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” if he plans to mount another Senate bid during the midterms.
Though a Republican candidate remains the favorite in traditionally-red Texas, recent polling shows the midterm Senate contest could tighten or even favor a competitive Democratic challenger if Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton advances to the general election.
Paxton continues to lead Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent, by double digits, according to recent surveys. Cornyn’s backers argue the race is still early and the polling gap will be narrow before the March primary.
Republican Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt, who is running ads across the state boosting his name recognition among voters he does not represent, appears to be waiting in the wings.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 04: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) speaks during the We Choose To Fight: Nobody Elected Elon Rally at the U.S. Department Of The Treasury on February 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for MoveOn)
Crockett leads a contested Democratic field by double digits, according to a July survey conducted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senate Republicans’ campaign arm.
The left-wing firebrand netted 35% of likely Democratic voters, followed by Allred at 20% and O’Rourke and Democratic Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro at 13%, the NRSC poll found. Less than 20% of likely Democratic primary voters said they were undecided about their preferred nominee to take on the Republican candidate.
Though Crockett has not signaled that she will jump in the race soon, she is still entertaining the idea of launching a bid.
“You know, depending on how many people reach out, we’ll determine if there’s something to actually consider,” Crockett said in a video posted to Instagram on July 9 . “But as of now, I am proudly serving Texas 30th congressional district.”
“The Repubs threw my name into the Texas Senate race … out of fear I guess,” Crockett added.
Allred, who trails Crockett by fifteen percentage points in a hypothetical matchup, is the only Democratic candidate with elected experience to jump into the race thus far. He lost to Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz by more than eight percentage points in November despite still significantly outperforming former Vice President Kamala Harris who lost the Lone Star State to Trump by nearly 14 points.
Terry Virts, a retired NASA astronaut who has never held elected office, has also entered the fray. The outsider could face considerable obstacles to winning the party’s nomination due to his lack of name ID and fledgling fundraising base.
Crockett has frequently courted controversy due to her fondness for engaging in personal attacks against Republicans, especially Trump. Her brash style could alienate independent voters and some moderate Democrats if she were to become the general election nominee.
She referred to Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as “Governor Hot Wheels” during a speech in March. She then refused to issue an apology after reporting undercut her explanation that she was referring to Abbott sending illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities.
She characterized Trump supporters as “mentally ill” in June. The left-wing rabble-rouser has continued to make inflammatory comments, calling Trump a “wannabe Hitler” Saturday.
A spokesperson for Crockett did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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