Crockett is clearly not happy.
Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett is once again making headlines after defending her failed U.S. Senate campaign and rejecting calls to campaign alongside Democratic nominee James Talarico.
During an appearance at the Essence Festival on the “Native Land” podcast, Crockett claimed her Senate primary was influenced by racism and argued that she has no obligation to campaign with the Democrat who defeated her.
Instead, the Texas congresswoman said her focus is on increasing turnout by supporting Black candidates running in down-ballot races across the state.
Crockett said her priority is supporting lesser-known candidates further down the ballot and helping boost voter turnout in Texas by raising their visibility.
Crockett Calls Senate Race ‘Racist’
Crockett pushed back against critics who questioned how she handled her campaign, insisting race played a significant role in the Democratic primary.
“You see, a lot of haters got a lot of things to say about me and my race and how I ran it,” Crockett said. “But the reality is… it was a racist race.”
She also argued that her campaign generated record Democratic turnout in Texas, pointing to the number of votes cast during her bid for the Senate nomination.
According to Crockett, only campaigns led by former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton produced higher Democratic turnout in Texas.
Defending Her Decision Not to Campaign With Talarico
After launching her Senate campaign in 2025, Crockett ultimately lost the Democratic nomination to Texas state Rep. James Talarico. Talarico is now preparing to face Republican Ken Paxton in one of the state’s most closely watched elections.
Despite losing the primary, Crockett said she has already done enough to help Democratic voters and questioned why some expect her to actively campaign alongside her former opponent.
“Our Democratic nominee during a presidential year last term got 500,000 votes. I got over double that, and I still lost,” Crockett said. “I am doing my part.”
She argued that candidates who lose major races are rarely expected to campaign for the person who defeated them.
“The reality is that people hold me to a completely different standard,” Crockett said. “We have never seen anybody… be pressured to jump into a Senate race to help out their opponent that beat them.”
Crockett added that she believes the criticism directed toward her is unique because she is “a high-profile Black woman.”
‘I Am Nobody’s Footstool’
The Texas Democrat also made it clear that she intends to continue focusing on causes she believes are most important rather than changing her priorities because of outside pressure.
“I am nobody’s footstool,” Crockett said. “I believe in doing everything that I can for the betterment… specifically for Black people.”
Earlier in the interview, Crockett dismissed suggestions that she should appear at campaign events with Talarico.
“People keep trying to say, ‘Well, Jasmine has to go and hold his hand.’ No, I don’t,” she said.
She argued that encouraging voters to support multiple candidates on the ballot is a more effective strategy for increasing voter turnout than simply campaigning with another candidate.
Democrats Face Questions About Party Unity
Crockett’s remarks have renewed discussion about divisions within the Democratic Party following a competitive Senate primary.
With Talarico now facing Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the general election, Democrats continue working to unify their voters ahead of November. Crockett, however, has made it clear that she believes her efforts are best spent supporting other candidates and encouraging turnout rather than joining her former rival on the campaign trail.
Her comments are likely to fuel additional debate over Democratic Party unity as one of Texas’ highest-profile races enters its final stretch.
