Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has confirmed that internal polling suggests she is a strong contender for the Texas U.S. Senate seat in the 2026 election. The Texas Democrat shared her optimistic outlook during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
Host Jake Tapper pressed the Congresswoman on the reports that she is considering a challenge to Republican Senator John Cornyn, whose seat is up for election, and whether her recent meeting with pollsters had helped solidify her decision. “I am still thinking about running,” Crockett responded. “We did get our polling back, so we are moving on to the next phase to determine whether or not this is what makes sense in the moment, and if the infrastructure can be built out in the way that I see it being necessary to actually be able to win as well.”
Tapper asked for specifics on the polling data, particularly how it addresses the possibility of Cornyn surviving a primary challenge from a more “MAGA candidate,” which could present a different opponent for a Democrat. Crockett offered a direct answer regarding her perceived viability against potential Republican challengers.
“I’ll tell you this that head to head we are doing really well against Paxton,” she stated, referring to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. She then added a significant detail about the incumbent, “I will also tell you that we are actually within the margin of error as it relates to John Cornyn.” Crockett was unequivocal in her interpretation of the data, declaring, “To be perfectly honest, the only reason that I’m continuing to consider whether or not I do this is because my polling says I can win. That is the bottom line.”
However, she offered a measured follow-up, acknowledging the limitations of early data: “But at the end of the day, a poll is a poll. And so you need to actually be able to execute on that.” She maintained confidence in her potential to win against either Republican, though she clearly has a preference. “So whether it’s Cornyn or whether it’s Paxton, we feel confident that we can get this done. The thing is, we obviously would prefer to have Paxton.” Crockett’s comments position her as a serious and data-driven prospective candidate for a seat long held by Republicans, injecting new energy into the Texas political landscape.