House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) publicly celebrated Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s (D-TX) entry into the Texas Senate race, calling her campaign a political gift to Republicans. Johnson labeled Crockett the “face of the Democratic Party,” predicting that Texas voters would reject her far-left platform.
Johnson reacted with visible excitement when asked about Crockett’s candidacy. “Absolutely delighted that Jasmine Crockett is running for Senate in Texas,” he said. “I think it’s one of the greatest things that’s happened to the Republican Party in a long, long time.” He continued, “We are going to elect another Republican senator in Texas. Texas is a red state. The people of Texas are common sense Americans, and what Jasmine is trying to sell will not be purchased.”
Crockett formally launched her Senate campaign this week, declaring her candidacy as a “life or death” moment and framing it around her identity as a black woman and Democrat. During her emotional announcement, she said, “I never put myself into any of the polls… this was never about me,” before urging supporters to reject “intrusive voices” that claim she can’t win because of her race, gender, or party affiliation.
Known for her fiery rhetoric and controversial statements, Crockett has become a high-profile progressive voice. In recent months, she’s drawn criticism for connecting grocery prices to deportations and labeling President Donald Trump a white supremacist with a “cult” of followers. Her positions and public persona have made her a darling of the far-left, but also a lightning rod for opposition.
Johnson linked Crockett’s run to a broader trend in the Democratic Party, suggesting her campaign represents its increasingly radical identity. “She and Mamdani – good luck with that,” he quipped, referencing other progressive Democrats. “I want her to have the largest, loudest microphone that she can every single day.”
Texas, a GOP stronghold in federal elections, last elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1988. With Sen. Ted Cruz up for re-election, Republicans see Crockett’s campaign as an opportunity to energize conservative voters and solidify their grip on the Lone Star State’s Senate seats.
