Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) emerged as a quiet winner in Tuesday’s Texas primary runoffs, as two candidates she backed secured victories in closely watched House races—offsetting her earlier loss to state Rep. James Talarico in the Democratic Senate primary.
Former Rep. Colin Allred, who has Crockett’s endorsement, defeated Rep. Julie Johnson in a runoff for a Dallas-area House seat. Johnson had Talarico’s support. Meanwhile, Rep. Christian Menefee, another Crockett ally, beat incumbent Rep. Al Green in the 18th Congressional District after redistricting forced them into the same primary. Talarico stayed out of that contest.
The results underscore Crockett’s enduring political weight in Texas Democratic circles, even as her own Senate ambitions were thwarted. The proxy victories give her a tangible foothold in the state’s delegation as she prepares to leave the House at the end of this term.
The contests were shaped by aggressive Republican-led redistricting that reconfigured several Democratic-leaning seats, setting up intraparty clashes. The new maps, pushed through by Texas Republicans, created head-to-head matchups like Allred versus Johnson—a scenario that divided party loyalists and attracted national attention from House Democratic leadership.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene backed Johnson, but Allred’s win suggests Crockett’s grassroots network and local appeal outweighed establishment support. Both Allred and Menefee are now heavy favorites in November in their safely Democratic districts.
These races were part of a broader reshuffling that began when Allred vacated his seat to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024—a bid he lost. He later launched a Senate run against Sen. John Cornyn but dropped out to reclaim his old House seat after Crockett entered the Senate race. Johnson had succeeded Allred after his 2024 Senate run.
Tuesday’s outcomes also reflect the fluid dynamics within the Texas Democratic Party as it navigates mid-decade redistricting and prepares for high-stakes midterm elections. Crockett’s ability to steer her endorsements to victory signals she remains a pivotal figure, even as her own political future shifts.
In the Senate race, Talarico defeated Crockett outright in the March primary, ending her House tenure. But her proxy wins in the runoffs—coupled with strong showings by her allies in other contests—suggest her influence is far from diminished. The results also highlight the ongoing realignment among Texas Democrats as they grapple with new maps and a challenging electoral landscape.
For Talarico, the runoffs delivered a mixed verdict. While he won the Senate nod, his preferred House candidate lost, and he took no position on the Menefee-Green race. The outcome leaves the party’s internal factions in flux as they look toward November.
