U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett has voiced skepticism regarding her former primary rival James Talarico's prospects in the upcoming midterm elections for the Texas Senate seat. Crockett, a Democrat representing Texas, stated that she is not convinced Talarico can secure a victory in the state, suggesting that the lack of significant investment from national Republican and Democratic campaign arms indicates the race is not viewed as winnable.
"I don't know," Crockett told NBC News when asked about Talarico's chances of turning Texas blue. She indicated that her assessment is based on observing financial commitments, noting, "When I look at the money, if Republicans start spending money in Texas, then I'll be convinced. But right now, national Republicans decided they wanted to dump money into North Carolina, as well as Georgia. That's where they're fighting."
Crockett pointed to the absence of substantial financial backing from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in Texas. "Neither one are investing, which tells me that their internals are saying the same thing," she said. "So it looks like status quo."
This comes after Crockett lost to Talarico in the Democratic primary by a margin of 52.4% to 46.2%. Earlier in the summer, Crockett declined an invitation to speak at the Texas Democratic Party convention, which Talarico had extended. She described the invitation as an "afterthought."
Crockett has also previously expressed reservations about Talarico's ability to appeal to Black voters in the state. When asked if she would campaign for Talarico, Crockett stated that she would not begin to make decisions about which races to support until late September or October, focusing on those she believes are winnable.
The Texas Senate race is considered critical for determining the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats need to flip four seats to gain control of the chamber in the upcoming elections. Recent polls have shown Talarico holding a slight lead over Republican nominee Ken Paxton.