Crockett’s Plan to Win Texas: Turnout Over Crossover Voters

Rep. Jasmine Crockett says her path to winning a U.S. Senate seat in Texas is not about persuading a set percentage of Republican voters, but about energizing Democratic turnout, according to her recent interview on MS NOW.

Asked by host Chris Hayes about concerns that she may struggle to win the “8 to 10% of Republican voters necessary to win this race,” Crockett rejected that premise. She argued that Democratic candidates have often fallen short by failing to fully mobilize their base, rather than by lacking crossover appeal.

Hayes pointed to Georgia Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff as recent Democratic winners who combined strong turnout with crossover support. Crockett acknowledged Texas is a tough state electorally but suggested dissatisfaction among some Trump voters creates opportunity.

“I don’t think anyone who is super in love with Trump would ever vote for me or any other Democrat. That is just the reality,” Crockett said. “I think what it is, is who is going to talk to people and make them understand that they will fight for them.”

She cited voters who have supported both Donald Trump and progressive Democrats as evidence. 

“That is why you have Mamdani-Trump voters. That is why you have AOC-Trump voters. That is why you had Obama-Trump voters,” she told Hayes.

“Democrats that believe the only way that you can win is by being soft and sounding like a Republican, that is not true,” she said, referencing comments made by Zohran Mamdani while confronting Trump.

The remarks follow Crockett’s announcement of her Texas Senate bid last week. She is facing a Democratic primary that includes Texas state Rep. James Talarico, after former Rep. Colin Allred exited the Senate race to pursue a House seat.