Jasmine Crockett says flipping Trump voters isn’t part of her Texas Senate bid: ‘We don’t need to’

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said on Monday, December 9, that she was not seeking to win over supporters of President Donald Trump as she launched her campaign for the US Senate.

Crockett unveiled her bid for a Texas Senate seat the same day, releasing a video featuring herself on camera alongside audio clips of Trump criticizing her.

Jasmine Crockett says winning over Trump supporters isn’t part of her strategy

In a CNN interview, host Laura Coates asked Jasmine Crockett how she planned to win over voters who previously supported Donald Trump.

Coates said, “How will you make voters who previously voted for Trump, particularly given that you have been an outspoken critic, and he has inserted himself? Just take your campaign video, as is. He has inserted himself at every turn when it comes to your commentary. How will you convert those who are supportive of him to voters for you?”

Crockett replied, “Yeah, I don‘t know that we’ll necessarily convert all of Trump‘s supporters. That’s not our goal.” She emphasized, “Our goal is to definitely talk to people. No, we don't, we don't need to. Our goal is to make sure that we can engage people that historically have not been talked to, because there's so many people that get ignored, specifically in the state of Texas.”

She added, “Listen, the state of Texas is 61% people of color. We have a lot of good folks that we can talk to.”

Crockett then cited former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke, who ran for Senate against Sen Ted Cruz in 2018, ran for president in 2020, and ran in Texas’ gubernatorial election in 2022, losing all three contests.

She said, “We know that when Beto came really close, Beto, who is a progressive, we know that he got 65% of the Latino vote. So what did they do after that? They specifically went after Latinos.”

Crockett continued, “We know that he got close to 90%, or right there, at 90% of the African American vote. So honestly, what we need to do is start talking to the vast majority of Texas. I think my message is very much a mainstream message.” 

Jasmine Crockett slams Trump for calling affordability a 'Democratic hoax'

Crockett criticized Donald Trump for dismissing affordability concerns as a “Democratic hoax.” She said, “My message is real simple. I'm looking out for you, your survival and the survival of your kids, as it relates to affordability, being able to actually go and access healthcare, being able to send your child to school, being able to afford a roof over your head.”

She added, “If that's not what Trump supporters want, then fine. Then they absolutely won't listen to me. But I'm here for the everyday person. The person that's not the billionaire on the list that Trump has decided to take care of."

Crockett concluded, "But the people that he left sitting out in the cold, just like he did when he decided to be sworn in, and he decided that inauguration day, he would have it inside, while so many of his loyal supporters were outside.”

Crockett faced criticism from conservatives after announcing her Senate bid. Texas Gov Greg Abbott posted on X that he looks forward to “watching the circus, and KEEPING the US Senate seat red.” 

He added, “Jasmine Crockett about to learn the hard way that most Texans are very different from her district, her base & her values.” Abbott continued, “She’ll be pummeled for her progressive socialist agenda & get crushed by the Republican nominee for Senate. The Texas political cemetery is filled with blow hards like her who have no idea what it’s like to run statewide.”

It is worth noting that Democrats have not won a US Senate race in Texas since 1988.