WASHINGTON — A longtime Texas Republican senator Thursday called a rising Democratic star and a prominent critic of President Donald Trump eyeing a Senate seat "crazy."
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was asked about Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who said this week she is "strongly" considering a run for Senate and has drawn attention in initial polls to potentially challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), whose term ends in January 2027.
"Well, the polling I've seen shows her leading the Democrat primary," Cruz said. "I think sadly, today's Democrat(ic) Party, has no shortage on crazy."
If she joins the race, Crockett is likely to face off against several Democrats, including former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who lost in 2024 to Cruz and has built a following across the state, Politico reports.
Another opponent would be state Rep. James Talarico, who announced he would join the race in September, and astronaut Terry Virts, according to Newsweek.
The potential move follows Texas Republicans' redistricting of her House seat to make it more competitive for Republican candidates — something she referred to as karmic — in an interview Wednesday on SiriusXM’s The Lurie Daniel Favors Show.
"If you want to take my seat of 766,000 away, I feel like there has to be some karma in that to where I take your seat that is for 30 million away. So we are, you know, the primary is the primary. That's cool, but you got to win the general. So we are doing some testing here shortly to see if I can expand the electorate," Crockett said.
"The question will be whether or not we believe that we've got enough juice to expand the electorate and looking at those cross tabs and looking at which demographics are more inclined to come out, who normally do not vote. If we can expand the electorate, then I will strongly be considering hopping in the Senate race,” Crockett said.
Rep. Al Green (D-TX) told Raw Story that if she runs, Crockett could mobilize voters.
"I think she can," Green said. "I think the state is changing. I think we're having young people register to vote. She appeals to young people. I think she can bring out those young people and I do think that people are concerned about the future of our state.
“When we have the Guadalupe River taking these many lives and the state did not take actions … then you've got the president who has cut FEMA. These things are things of concerns. So I think there's some issues that she can raise that would appeal to the very young as well as the very conservative."
Crockett's potential campaign could help target a particular group, he explained.
"She will bring out new voters. I'm talking about new voters who are young and voting for the first time, but new voters who have been out of the system for some time but are eligible to vote," Green added.
Sen. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) described Crockett as "tireless" in her work supporting Democrats and her constituents in an interview with Raw Story.
"She's provided a real spark and a charismatic voice to get our message across for Democrats," Castro said.