Democrats' carefully laid plans to reclaim the US Senate in the pivotal 2026 midterm elections face a significant internal threat from one of their own candidates in Texas, where a crucial seat is in play.
Controversial Comments Cause Concern
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, the two-term Democratic representative from Dallas now seeking her party's nomination for the Senate, has sparked serious anxiety among colleagues. The unease stems from past remarks about Latino and immigrant communities, a key demographic in a state where roughly 40 percent of the population is Hispanic.
Conservatives recently resurfaced a video from a 2025 speech at Grace Baptist Church in Connecticut. In it, Crockett stated that immigrants perform jobs many Americans, including Black Americans, will not do. "The fact is ain’t none of y’all trying to go and farm right now," she said. "We’re done picking cotton. You can't pay us enough to find a plantation."
This incident adds to a list of contentious statements, including her 2025 reference to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as "Governor Hot Wheels." Some within her party now question whether her caustic rhetoric could render her unelectable in a general election, despite her popularity with the progressive base and small donors.
The High-Stakes Texas Battlefield
The Democrats' long-shot strategy to flip the Senate hinges on winning seats like the one in Texas, held by Republican incumbent Senator John Cornyn since 2002. However, the party's path is fraught with complexity, beginning with a competitive primary.
Crockett must first defeat Texas state representative James Talarico, a populist from Austin who has garnered praise from figures like podcaster Joe Rogan. Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist who worked on Bernie Sanders's campaign, warned that Crockett's comments could harm her more in the primary. "They're more tuned into the news, and they're highly involved," Rocha told The Independent, referring to engaged Latino voters.
Yet, in a December interview, Crockett claimed she had received no criticism from Texas Hispanics. She defended herself by pointing to the inflammatory language used by Republicans, including Donald Trump. "I get to point to my record," she asserted. "I am standing side by side with my brown brothers and sisters in this fight."
Republican Chaos and Democratic Calculations
Democrats are banking on a Republican civil war to create an opening. Senator Cornyn, an old-school dealmaker, faces a primary challenge from the MAGA-aligned state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who tried to nullify 2020 election results and was impeached on bribery charges. A third candidate, Congressman Wesley Hunt, has also entered the fray.
Notably, the National Republican Senatorial Committee released polls in late 2025 showing Crockett leading, a move interpreted as an attempt to boost her candidacy because they view her as the weakest potential opponent.
The Hispanic vote remains the ultimate wild card. While Trump shocked many by flipping majority-Hispanic areas of the Rio Grande Valley in 2024, a backlash against mass deportations and the cost of living saw Latinos swing back toward Democrats in the 2025 off-year elections. "The goal there is to get Latinos to turn out," explained Rocha, highlighting the potent mix of economic anxiety and immigration enforcement fears.
As the primary season approaches, the Democratic Party is left to grapple with a difficult dilemma: whether a firebrand candidate who energises the base can also win over the diverse coalition necessary to turn Texas blue.
