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If the Democratic primary shake-up in Texas is any indication, the party's future doesn't look good.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett announced on Dec. 8 that she's filed to run for U.S. Senate in Texas, essentially swapping places with more moderate Democratic Rep. Colin Allred - who is popular here - but who dropped his bid the same day after speaking with Crockett.

Crockett is a progressive firebrand. Her bid for the U.S. Senate demonstrates some important, uncomfortable truths about the Democratic Party right now: It's still finding its footing, a year after Americans reelected President Donald Trump. It has leaned toward the progressive left, preferring politicians who espouse provocative rhetoric and typical, failed leftist policy positions to more commonsense moderates.

Texas will not vote to elevate Crockett to the Senate, but I hope this race gives the nation a chance to see that the Democratic Party is veering further left than before and pushing flamboyant stars adept at extreme rhetoric rather than accomplishing moderate policy goals.

Crockett is a “founding member” of Texas' progressive caucus and has been a U.S. representative for the state's 30th Congressional District - part of Dallas and Tarrant counties - since January 2023.

She certainly holds views that align with the left's more progressive wing. She opposed a bipartisan Israel aid bill that excluded humanitarian aid for Gaza and Ukrainian support, and simply voted "present" on a measure denouncing socialism.

The 44-year-old seems to create appeal from voters with an emphasis on identity politics. "In the midst of political turmoil, economic distress, and racial inequality, Congresswoman Crockett laced up her shoes to march for justice and run for the Texas House of Representatives," her biography on her website reads. "The sole Black freshman and youngest Black lawmaker in Texas during the 87th Legislative Session, Congresswoman Crockett navigated what has been marked as the most conservative session in Texas history."

In September, Crockett compared U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, particularly those under the Trump administration, to Civil War-era "slave patrols."

At a Human Rights Campaign event in early 2025, Crockett said this of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been partially paralyzed and uses a wheelchair: “Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. … And the only thing hot about him is that he’s a hot a-- mess.” She later told reporters she was not referring to his wheelchair but to his poor policies.

In an interview with Jonathan Van Ness on his "Getting Better" podcast, Crockett discussed her background as a public defender, stating, "I do want people to know that just because someone has committed a crime, it doesn’t make them a criminal. That is completely different. Being a criminal is more so about your mindset. Committing a crime can come for a lot of different reasons."

During an online rally for the "Tesla Takedown" movement, Crockett had some birthday wishes for Elon Musk on her own birthday - and they weren't for another successful year: "All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down."

Crockett has saved her "best" insults for Trump, calling him a "wannabe Hitler" and a "piece of s---."

If Crockett wins the Democratic nomination, she will face one of several Texas Republicans. She's not beating Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton or Rep. Wesley Hunt.

I can't imagine the Democratic Party actually thinks Crockett will win a Senate race in this state.

While I can see that Crockett has a certain star power, she is unlikely to rise far enough. It's not that Democrats don't have any voice in Texas - former Rep. Beto O'Rourke garnered some popularity among Democrats here in the three races he ran and lost - but the state is largely conservative. Voters want it that way.

Looking at Crockett's sparse legislative record and cable news ambitions, where she spouts provocative things or smears Republicans, I have one question for Democrats: Is this the kind of person the Democratic Party really wants as a leader? Texans sure don't.

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