As primaries wrap up, most Democratic candidates who battled it out in intense nominating contests have come out in full force to support their party’s nominees as they try to regain control of the Senate.
Read more Judge rejects Trump’s latest bid to challenge hush money conviction
But there’s one notable exception: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D).
Crockett, who has repeatedly declined to endorse state Rep. James Talarico, doubled down Thursday night. Asked in an interview with CNN’s Laura Coates if she would campaign with Talarico, Crockett said: “I will be campaigning downballot.”
Talarico, a state lawmaker and seminarian, has been surging in polls against Ken Paxton, the state’s scandal-plagued attorney general. But some strategists say they have not seen similar enthusiasm with Black voters, many of whom supported Crockett in the primary.
Her March primary with Talarico was beset by questions of race and gender, as Crockett accused Talarico of supporting ads against her that she called “straight-up racist.”
Without mentioning Talarico by name, Crockett said she would be focused on amplifying the profiles of downballot candidates who might not be receiving as much energy.
Read more Trump announces creation of U.S. Space Academy
“I don’t think it should be a matter of, ‘There’s just one thing that’s getting me to the polls,’” she said. “It has to be something a little bit more in a state like Texas.”
A spokesperson for Crockett did not immediately respond to questions clarifying which candidates she was seeking to support.
Her political action committee, the FIRE PAC, has endorsed five House candidates, including two running in Texas, as well as three candidates for state or local office in the Dallas and Houston areas. Karrol Rimal, a Crockett spokesman, said the group would endorse more candidate in the coming weeks to strengthen Democratic ranks in the Texas state legislature and boost candidates for county judge.
Catch up quickly every weekday morning with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories. Sign up for The 7 newsletter.
Read more Trees are coming down by the dozen as Trump’s D.C. golf makeover nears
