JUST IN: Jasmine Crockett Files Paperwork to Run for Senate in Texas

Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett has filed paperwork to run for Texas’s Senate seat, currently held by John Cornyn, in 2026, and she is set to make an official announcement this evening. 

Per CBS:

Rep. Jasmine Crockett on Monday filed paperwork to run for Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas, a source tells CBS News Texas, hours ahead of a planned news conference where she is set to announce her plans.

The announcement is set to be held 90 minutes before the state’s 6 p.m. CT deadline for candidates to file paperwork to run in the upcoming March 3 primary.

In the Democratic primary, Crockett will face state Rep. James Talarico of Austin, whose campaign has generated national headlines and who raised a record $6.2 million in the first three weeks of his campaign announcement.

After Crockett filed her paperwork, Talarico issued a statement saying, “We’re building a movement in Texas — fueled by record-breaking grassroots fundraising and 10,000 volunteers who are putting in the work to defeat the billionaire mega-donors and puppet politicians who have taken over our state. Our movement is rooted in unity over division — so we welcome Congresswoman Crockett into this race.”

Former House Rep. Colin Allred dropped out of the race this morning in anticipation of Crockett’s announcement, making her a clear favorite in the Democratic Primary.

But recent polling data shows Paxton outperforming potential Democratic opponents, including Crockett, in the red state of Texas.

Polling also shows Cornyn, Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) locked in a tight three-way primary with 26%, 25%, and 24% of support, respectively.

Crockett leads the Democratic primary field in the most recent University of Houston/ Texas Southern University poll.

During a recent appearance on MS Now, the weekend after Thanksgiving, Crockett teased a decision, saying she’s “closer to yes than I am no.”

Her only selling point was the color of her skin.

WATCH:

Crockett previously signaled that she would announce a decision by Thanksgiving on whether or not she is running, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper that she thinks she could beat Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a general election, based on likely bogus internal polling.

MORE:

(VIDEO) Jasmine Crockett Says She Will Announce Senatorial Bid by Thanksgiving – Hilariously Claims Her Polling Says She Can Beat Ken Paxton: “We Obviously Would Prefer to Have Paxton”

This is a developing story.