Jasmine Crockett

Jasmine Crockett
Born	Jasmine Felicia Crockett 29 3, 1981
Birthplace	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 30th congressional district
Education	Rhodes College (BA) University of Houston Law Center (JD)
Website	[[crockett.house.gov crockett.house.gov] Official site]

Jasmine Felicia Crockett (born March 29, 1981) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 30th congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Crockett previously represented the 100th district in the Texas House of Representatives from 2021 to 2023. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she built a legal career that included work as a public defender in Bowie County, Texas, and later as a personal injury attorney before entering electoral politics. Crockett first won elected office in 2020 when she defeated incumbent state representative Lorraine Birabil in the Democratic primary for the Texas House District 100 seat. Two years later, with the retirement of longtime congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Crockett launched a successful campaign for the U.S. House, winning the seat representing a majority-minority district based in Dallas. In Congress, she was selected for a freshman leadership role within the Democratic caucus shortly after her election. As of 2026, Crockett is a candidate for the United States Senate in Texas.

Early Life

Jasmine Felicia Crockett was born on March 29, 1981, in St. Louis, Missouri. Details about her family background and upbringing in St. Louis are limited in publicly available sources, though Crockett has spoken in interviews about the experiences that shaped her interest in law and public service. She eventually relocated to the southern United States to pursue higher education, attending college in Memphis, Tennessee, before moving to Texas, where she would establish both her legal career and political life.

Crockett's path to politics was rooted in her legal work. After completing law school, she served as a public defender in Bowie County, Texas, located in the northeastern corner of the state, for approximately three years. The experience of representing indigent defendants in the criminal justice system informed her views on criminal justice reform and equity in legal representation. She later transitioned to private practice as a personal injury attorney, building a career in the Dallas–Fort Worth area before seeking elected office.

Education

Crockett earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Rhodes College, a private liberal arts college in Memphis, Tennessee. She subsequently attended law school at the University of Houston Law Center, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. Some sources also note her attendance at Texas Southern University, though the specific nature of her studies there is not detailed in available records.

Career

Legal Career

Following her graduation from law school, Crockett embarked on a legal career that began in public service. She worked as a public defender in Bowie County, Texas, spending approximately three years representing clients who could not afford private counsel in criminal proceedings. Her work in the public defender's office provided her with direct exposure to disparities in the criminal justice system, an issue she would later address as a legislator.

After her tenure as a public defender, Crockett moved into private legal practice, working as a personal injury attorney in the Dallas area. In interviews, she has discussed how her combined legal experiences—both in criminal defense and civil litigation—informed her understanding of the challenges facing working-class and minority communities in Texas.

Texas House of Representatives (2021–2023)

Crockett entered electoral politics in 2020, running for the Texas House of Representatives in District 100, which encompasses parts of Dallas. The seat was held by Lorraine Birabil, who had been appointed to fill a vacancy earlier that year. In the July 2020 Democratic primary runoff election, Crockett defeated Birabil in a closely contested race, edging out the incumbent by a narrow margin. As District 100 was a safely Democratic seat, Crockett's primary victory effectively secured her election to the Texas House. She was sworn in on January 12, 2021.

During her tenure in the Texas House, Crockett served on multiple committees and established herself as a vocal member of the Democratic caucus. Her time in the state legislature coincided with a period of significant political tension in Texas, including contentious legislative battles over voting rights, redistricting, and other policy issues. Crockett was among the Democrats who participated in efforts to challenge Republican-led legislative initiatives during this period.

Campaign for U.S. Congress (2022)

In November 2021, longtime congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who had represented Texas's 30th congressional district since 1993, announced her retirement at the end of her term. Crockett quickly emerged as a candidate to succeed Johnson, and her candidacy received a notable early endorsement from Johnson herself.

The race for the open seat drew a crowded Democratic primary field. During the campaign, Crockett's fundraising attracted attention, including reporting by The Texas Tribune on the role of cryptocurrency-linked super PACs in the race. Crockett advanced to a runoff election against Jane Hope Hamilton. In the May 2022 runoff, Crockett won decisively, securing the Democratic nomination.

Given that Texas's 30th congressional district is a majority-minority district based in Dallas that has historically voted overwhelmingly Democratic, Crockett's primary victory made her the heavy favorite in the November 2022 general election. She won the general election and succeeded Eddie Bernice Johnson, marking a generational change in the district's representation.

U.S. House of Representatives (2023–present)

Crockett was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 30th congressional district on January 3, 2023, succeeding Eddie Bernice Johnson. Shortly after her election, she was chosen by her peers for a freshman leadership role within the House Democratic caucus, a distinction that signaled her early standing within the party.

In Congress, Crockett has served as a member of the Democratic caucus and has been involved in legislative and oversight activities. She has gained public attention through her participation in committee hearings and floor debates, developing a media profile that extends beyond her congressional district. Her appearances in congressional proceedings have been noted for their directness, contributing to her growing national visibility within the Democratic Party.

Crockett has focused on issues including criminal justice reform, voting rights, and economic policy. Her official congressional website outlines her legislative priorities and constituent services for the Dallas-based district.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2026, Crockett announced her candidacy for the United States Senate seat in Texas, entering the Democratic primary. The campaign has drawn significant national attention, with media outlets characterizing it as a test of Democratic strategies in a state that has trended Republican in recent statewide elections.

Crockett has described her approach as unconventional, distinguishing her campaign style from traditional Senate races in Texas. Her campaign has included a series of community engagement events across the state, including stops in cities such as El Paso and Lubbock, where she has hosted "Community Conversation" events to engage voters outside the traditional Democratic strongholds of the state's major metropolitan areas.

On the issue of border security and immigration—a central topic in Texas politics—Crockett has stated during campaign stops in El Paso that Democrats can simultaneously support border security measures and advocate for immigrant communities. She has expressed support for improved border technology rather than additional physical barriers as a means of securing the border.

The Democratic primary has featured Crockett against state representative James Talarico, with the race drawing national attention and coverage from outlets including CNN, CBS News, and others. During the campaign, Crockett has criticized Talarico over a major donor's connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a claim that has added to the contentious nature of the primary. Political analysts have framed the primary as reflective of a broader debate within the Democratic Party about whether candidates should position themselves primarily in opposition to Republican policies or pursue a distinct progressive agenda.

The race has also generated discussion about electability, with some Democratic voters and commentators raising questions about whether Crockett or Talarico would be better positioned to compete in a general election in Texas.

Personal Life

Crockett resides in Dallas, Texas. She has spoken publicly about her faith and her connection to the Dallas community through both her legal work and civic engagement. Further details about her personal life are limited in publicly available sources.

Recognition

Following her election to Congress in November 2022, Crockett was selected by her fellow incoming Democratic members for a freshman leadership position within the House Democratic caucus. The appointment was reported by The Dallas Morning News as a sign of her standing among newly elected Democrats.

Crockett's 2026 Senate campaign has received substantial media coverage, with profiles and analysis appearing in CNN, CBS News, The American Prospect, El Paso Times, and other national and regional outlets. The level of national attention directed at the Texas Democratic primary has been noted by political commentators as indicative of the party's interest in competing in traditionally Republican-leaning states.

Her congressional career has also been tracked through official government records, including her profile in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress and her filings with the Federal Election Commission.