Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett launched a campaign Monday for the U.S. Senate in Texas, bringing a national profile to a race that may be critical to Democrats\u2019 long-shot hopes of reclaiming a Senate majority in next year\u2019s midterm elections. <\/p>\n
Crockett, one of Congress\u2019 most outspoken Democrats and a frequent target of GOP attacks, jumped into the race on the final day of qualifying in Texas. She is seeking the Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn<\/a>, who is running for reelection in the GOP-dominated state. <\/p>\n Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to wrest control from Republicans next November, when most of the seats up for reelection are in states like Texas that President Donald Trump won last year. Democrats have long hoped to make Texas more competitive after decades of Republican dominance. Cornyn, first elected to the Senate since 2002, is facing the toughest GOP primary of his career against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton<\/a> and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt<\/a>. <\/p>\n Crockett\u2019s announcement came hours after former Rep. Colin Allred<\/a> ended his own campaign for the Democratic nomination in favor of attempting a House comeback bid. She faces a March 3 primary against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico<\/a>, a former teacher with a rising national profile fueled by viral social media posts<\/a> challenging Republican policies such as private school vouchers and requiring the Ten Commandments<\/a> in classrooms. <\/p>\n Talarico raised almost $6.3 million in the three weeks after he formally organized his primary campaign committee in September, according its first campaign finance report, and he had nearly $5 million in cash on hand at the end of the month. Crockett raised about $2.7 million for her House campaign fund from July through September and ended the month with $4.6 million in cash on hand.<\/p>\n Crockett also could test Democratic voters\u2019 appetite for a blunt communicator who is eager to take on Republicans as their party sets out again in pursuit of a statewide victory in Texas for the first time since 1994. <\/p>\n Democrats see their best opportunity to pick up the Texas seat if Paxton wins the Republican nomination because he has been shadowed for much of his career by legal and personal issues.<\/a> Yet Paxton is popular with Trump\u2019s most ardent supporters.<\/p>\n Hunt, who has served two terms representing a Houston-area district, defied GOP leaders<\/a> by entering the GOP race. <\/p>\n Crockett, a civil rights attorney serving her second House term, built her national profile with a candid style and viral moments on Capitol Hill. Among those who have taken notice is Trump, who has called her a \u201clow IQ person.\u201d In response, Crockett said she would agree to take an IQ test against the president. <\/p>\n She traded insults with Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who announced last month that she would resign in January<\/a>, and had heated exchanges with Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina. <\/p>\n She also mocked Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott \u2014 who uses a wheelchair \u2014 as \u201cGov. Hot Wheels.\u201d<\/a> She later said she was referring to Abbott\u2019s policy of using \u201cplanes, trains and automobiles\u201d to send thousands of immigrants in Texas illegally to Democratic-led cities. <\/p>\n Democrats came closest in the past 30 years to winning a statewide contest in 2018, when former U.S. Rep. Beto O\u2019Rourke came within 3 points<\/a> of ousting Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. That was during the midterm election of Trump\u2019s first administration, and Democrats believe next year\u2019s race could be similarly favorable to their party. <\/p>\n