Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) took aim at Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s newly launched campaign for the U.S. Senate in Texas, brushing off her candidacy with a jab he delivered during a televised interview.
Speaking Sunday on Fox News’ “My View with Lara Trump,” Kennedy said Crockett’s supporters “need to tell her that the voices in her head are not real,” and argued her message would not land with Texas voters. (Fox News)
A national jab at a Texas race
Crockett, a second-term Democratic congresswoman from Dallas, entered the race this month as Texas Democrats look to challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in 2026. Her move set up a marquee Democratic primary contest against state Rep. James Talarico, an Austin-area lawmaker who has built a sizable online following and has leaned into faith-based messaging on the campaign trail. (The Texas Tribune)
At her campaign launch in Dallas, Crockett framed her run as a pushback against Washington dysfunction and the Trump administration’s agenda, telling supporters she was “done” with lawmakers who “sit around doing nothing.” (Fox News)
Kennedy calls the bid “unserious,” predicts she’ll lose
In the Fox interview, Kennedy went further than the “voices” remark, calling Crockett “wrong on every single issue” and predicting she would lose the race and “be leaving Congress.” He also said he expected the seat to remain in Republican hands. (Fox News)
The comments are the latest example of national Republicans treating Crockett’s candidacy as a political foil. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) similarly said he was “absolutely delighted” she was running, a remark widely interpreted as GOP confidence that her profile could help Republicans in Texas. (c-span.org)
Crockett leans into turnout and grassroots organizing
On the trail, Crockett has emphasized building turnout—particularly in communities of color—and has described plans for church visits, small-business stops, and targeted outreach. In her first Houston-area campaign appearance, she acknowledged early criticism tied to past remarks and foreign policy flashpoints, arguing opponents were misrepresenting her record. (Houston Chronicle)
Texas Democrats themselves remain divided about her statewide prospects. Some party operatives have praised her for generating attention and fundraising, while others have argued she will need to win over some Trump voters in a state that has recently leaned strongly Republican in presidential races. (The Texas Tribune)
What’s next
The Democratic primary is scheduled for March 3, and the contest is already drawing intense scrutiny because it will shape the party’s strategy in a state where Democrats have struggled to win statewide offices in recent decades. (The Texas Tribune)
