Kamala Harris Backtracks, Picks Texas Senate Hopeful

In a surprising move, former Vice President Kamala Harris has thrown her weight behind Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Senate race. This marks Harris’s first big political endorsement since her 2024 presidential bid ended in defeat. The announcement came after a Harris‑voiced robocall that praised Crockett’s record and urged Texans to elect a “fighter” who can hold powerful interests accountable. Crockett faces a tough challenge from state Rep. James Talarico for the Democratic nomination on March 3. Meanwhile, Republican Senator John Cornyn is competing with state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt for the GOP spot, a contest likely to lead to a runoff on May 26. Harris’s support is significant because it is her first public backing of a competitive primary candidate since the 2024 election. She had been largely absent from campaigning, except for a quiet appearance in Tennessee’s special congressional race and a brief tour promoting her memoir. Harris also recently refreshed her social media presence to attract younger voters.Crockett, who served as a national co‑chair on Harris’s 2024 campaign, has been critical of the Democratic Party’s strategy. She argues that the party spent too much effort courting Republicans, leaving many core supporters disengaged. In a Conroe rally she urged Democrats to double down on their own principles—such as raising wages—to energize the base and win back disaffected voters. Talarico, on the other hand, claims he can appeal across party lines, pointing to his legislative win in a Trump‑leaning district. He hopes that broad appeal will secure the nomination and position him to flip the Senate seat. The Texas Tribune reported Harris’s endorsement, confirming it with the Crockett campaign. The move could shift momentum in a race that many see as pivotal for control of the U. S. Senate.