‘We’re Coming for Trump’: Crockett’s Senate Bid Shakes Up Texas Dems

Paul Riverbank, 2/10/2026 Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s unconventional Senate bid in Texas is shaking up Democratic norms, drawing sharp scrutiny and raising big questions about strategy, organization, and the party’s future as rival Christian Talarico leans on traditional campaigning. The race’s outcome could redefine Democratic politics in the Lone Star State.

Crockett’s targets are as bold as her language. Fresh from the session, she didn’t skirt controversy. “We have a 34-count convicted felon, and there are people that are still shielding him from any type of accountability as it relates to a child sex-trafficking ring,” she declared, alluding heavily, but not directly, to former President Donald Trump. It’s a charge loaded with political dynamite—and one that’s tangled in the ongoing investigations Washington can’t seem to shake.

For context, neither Trump nor Bill Clinton, both mentioned in recently unsealed Epstein files, has been accused of criminal conduct. Still, their names lurk around every corner of the debate, fueling the kind of speculation that keeps the Capitol rumor mill spinning. Crockett insists her fight is about right and wrong, brushing aside accusations of partisanship with barely concealed exasperation.

And in a twist befitting contemporary politics, Crockett’s firebrand style in Congress coincides with her unpredictable Senate campaign back home. With just weeks before the Texas Democratic primary, her run is a riddle for political operatives: insiders in both Austin and Washington trade incredulous texts—where’s the campaign manager? Why the hush around TV advertising? Instead, the campaign seems powered more by Crockett’s distinctive presence and loyal grassroots supporters than any visible strategy.

Meanwhile, her main challenger, James Talarico, has run what, on paper, seems like a classic Texas campaign—relentless TV spots, a splashy Super Bowl ad, and outreach in both English and Spanish. The difference in spending is staggering: $6.6 million from Talarico versus $260,000 for Crockett up to this week. Only as early voting began did Crockett reserve a modest $112,000 in ads, with absentee ballots already in motion.

Her supporters counter that traditional tactics have rarely worked for candidates who don’t fit the classic mold. Jen Ramos, long active in Texas Democratic politics, says flatly, “Candidates of color cannot use these traditional methods because these traditional methods were not designed for them.” The message from Crockett’s team is unapologetic: new playbook, new rules, even as others mutter about the campaign’s readiness.

Others within the party are anxious—campaign glitches, like an early website draft littered with editing notes and empty policy pages, have fanned doubts. Critics and supporters alike watched as, overnight, the page was fixed, yet the episode added to the sense that much of the campaign is happening on the fly.

Publicly, Crockett’s campaign meets the firestorm with defiance. “We reject the DC playbook of politics as usual, because this moment -- and winning -- demands something different,” her deputy manager, Karrol Rimal, said when pressed about the unconventional approach. The official line? Lean into history, and don’t apologize for breaking the mold.

There’s little consensus about which horse is leading. The University of Houston’s survey gives Crockett an eight-point lead, but polls from Emerson College favor Talarico by nine—a reminder the Texas electorate is unpredictable on its best day. Even Crockett’s digital campaigning has courted controversy: a recent AI-generated clip portraying Trump as an anime villain drew as much raised-eyebrow as applause. Substance? There was little. Style? Ample.

Crockett herself insists the stakes go far beyond her own race, casting shade at Talarico, the Republican Party, and sometimes even her own. “They are playing games right now,” she told a reporter, frustration evident. To her, the slow rollout and shadowboxing are no accident; opponents want voters distracted from difficult truths aired in those files.

No matter the motivation, the clock is ticking. The winner of this brawl will face a Republican Party ready to wage war to keep both chambers. National Democrats keep one wary eye on the Texas brawl, aware that the 2026 midterms will shape whether Trump’s political brand thrives or stumbles.

For voters, TV ads are finally trickling in—late but unmistakable. Over the next few weeks, Texans will decide whether Crockett’s maverick tactics break through, or if the comfort of a conventional ground game tips the balance. In this tangle of personalities and playbooks, the only certainty is that the Democratic fight in Texas is as much about arguing over the rules as it is about beating the other side.

Late on a humid Tuesday, Rep. Jasmine Crockett emerged from the House Oversight Committee’s closed-door session with Ghislaine Maxwell, her words as sharp as a sudden rainfall: “We’re gonna be on his a—.” Reporters crowded forward, sensing both fatigue and something more urgent in her tone. It’s hardly new to see Crockett at the center of a storm, but lately, the thunderclaps have been louder—her name ricocheting from Capitol corridors to the campaign trails of Texas.Crockett’s targets are as bold as her language. Fresh from the session, she didn’t skirt controversy. “We have a 34-count convicted felon, and there are people that are still shielding him from any type of accountability as it relates to a child sex-trafficking ring,” she declared, alluding heavily, but not directly, to former President Donald Trump. It’s a charge loaded with political dynamite—and one that’s tangled in the ongoing investigations Washington can’t seem to shake.For context, neither Trump nor Bill Clinton, both mentioned in recently unsealed Epstein files, has been accused of criminal conduct. Still, their names lurk around every corner of the debate, fueling the kind of speculation that keeps the Capitol rumor mill spinning. Crockett insists her fight is about right and wrong, brushing aside accusations of partisanship with barely concealed exasperation.And in a twist befitting contemporary politics, Crockett’s firebrand style in Congress coincides with her unpredictable Senate campaign back home. With just weeks before the Texas Democratic primary, her run is a riddle for political operatives: insiders in both Austin and Washington trade incredulous texts—where’s the campaign manager? Why the hush around TV advertising? Instead, the campaign seems powered more by Crockett’s distinctive presence and loyal grassroots supporters than any visible strategy.Meanwhile, her main challenger, James Talarico, has run what, on paper, seems like a classic Texas campaign—relentless TV spots, a splashy Super Bowl ad, and outreach in both English and Spanish. The difference in spending is staggering: $6.6 million from Talarico versus $260,000 for Crockett up to this week. Only as early voting began did Crockett reserve a modest $112,000 in ads, with absentee ballots already in motion.Her supporters counter that traditional tactics have rarely worked for candidates who don’t fit the classic mold. Jen Ramos, long active in Texas Democratic politics, says flatly, “Candidates of color cannot use these traditional methods because these traditional methods were not designed for them.” The message from Crockett’s team is unapologetic: new playbook, new rules, even as others mutter about the campaign’s readiness.Others within the party are anxious—campaign glitches, like an early website draft littered with editing notes and empty policy pages, have fanned doubts. Critics and supporters alike watched as, overnight, the page was fixed, yet the episode added to the sense that much of the campaign is happening on the fly.Publicly, Crockett’s campaign meets the firestorm with defiance. “We reject the DC playbook of politics as usual, because this moment -- and winning -- demands something different,” her deputy manager, Karrol Rimal, said when pressed about the unconventional approach. The official line? Lean into history, and don’t apologize for breaking the mold.There’s little consensus about which horse is leading. The University of Houston’s survey gives Crockett an eight-point lead, but polls from Emerson College favor Talarico by nine—a reminder the Texas electorate is unpredictable on its best day. Even Crockett’s digital campaigning has courted controversy: a recent AI-generated clip portraying Trump as an anime villain drew as much raised-eyebrow as applause. Substance? There was little. Style? Ample.Crockett herself insists the stakes go far beyond her own race, casting shade at Talarico, the Republican Party, and sometimes even her own. “They are playing games right now,” she told a reporter, frustration evident. To her, the slow rollout and shadowboxing are no accident; opponents want voters distracted from difficult truths aired in those files.No matter the motivation, the clock is ticking. The winner of this brawl will face a Republican Party ready to wage war to keep both chambers. National Democrats keep one wary eye on the Texas brawl, aware that the 2026 midterms will shape whether Trump’s political brand thrives or stumbles.For voters, TV ads are finally trickling in—late but unmistakable. Over the next few weeks, Texans will decide whether Crockett’s maverick tactics break through, or if the comfort of a conventional ground game tips the balance. In this tangle of personalities and playbooks, the only certainty is that the Democratic fight in Texas is as much about arguing over the rules as it is about beating the other side.