It’s been only three days since Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett announced her campaign for Senate. And while the Congresswomen is hitting the streets hard ahead of next year’s midterm election, the battle has not been an easy one for her. From constant backlash from Republicans– including President Donald Trump– to the recent redistricting effort in her state to wipe out all Democrat-led voting zones, Crockett has seen and heard it all.
Suggested Reading
She sat down with The Root to share her plans for the Senate race and why her voice matters now.
The Root: Your campaign announcement included audio of President Trump repeatedly calling you a “low-IQ person.” Why was it important for you to include that in your messaging? What message were you trying to send?
Rep. Jasmine Crockett: One of the things that I wanted to do was do more than just say, “I’m tough.” So the theme of our campaign is Texas tough, right? So I don’t run from a fight at all, and it doesn’t matter who is on the other side, including the President of the United States. And I wanted to kind of demonstrate that. Like, yeah, I hear you. I’ve heard everything that you said, and I’m not backing down.
And I think that right now, regardless of somebody’s political affiliation, they want people to have a backbone. They want people that exhibit strength, and they want people that will go after whoever is wrong– even if it is the President of the United States… So I thought that that was a great way to set the tone for what it was going to be. And then I also thought that it was just kind of genius, that he has said things like “They’re relying on her to save us” — specifically made that the last particular thing that was said. Then I did the little grin, right? Because I also felt like Republicans recognized Democratic star power before Democratic even see it. I think Democrats run away from it sometimes, and I think Republicans go after it, and they attack it because they don’t want them to ascend. I think it is telling that even as a very junior member in the House, he’s calling out my name. That says a lot.
The Root: How did the redistricting effort play a role in your decision?
Crockett: We know that just a few days prior to the filing deadline in Texas, the Supreme Court played Texans and played this country by trying to take our five seats in silencing voices of African Americans and making them only worth one-fifth of their voting strength when it came down to those congressional lines. But the one place that they are wholly able to access the ballot box and wholly able to participate in their representation is for the United States Senate.
I do believe in karma in addition to the fact that it is only the United States Senate that actually oversees who actually sits on the Supreme Court. It’s also the Senate that has oversight over the Supreme Court justices. And so right now, I could settle and say, “I can be here, and I can stay a voice,” but the things that we really need to see change where our rights have been stripped away– whether we’re talking about the Voting Rights Act, whether we’re talking about rolling back provisions with the Civil Rights Act, whether we’re talking about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), whether we’re talking about reproductive access. Whatever it is, it has been all coming out of this Supreme Court.
… And so this is about elevating our fight. This is about fighting smarter. This is about changing the map… And I can continue to play this game and play on people emotions and say, “I’m here fighting for you,” and I am, right? But if I can elevate my fight, then that’s what we need to do. And this is about leveling up and making sure that when I fight, I’m also winning.
The Root: And it is gonna be a fight, right? I don’t suspect that you think this is gonna be an easy battle, especially giving the attention that’s on Texas. What are the biggest challenges that you think are facing your campaign?
Crockett: Facing my campaign is probably just hate. I mean it’s hard to keep people focused, right? I’m one of the things that I used to talk about when I was on the trail for [former Vice President Kamala] Harris and [former President Joe] Biden is that we’re getting distracted… So just trying to make sure that people stay focused and don’t get distracted. Like, you know the things that are making your life tough. Why are we talking about anything else? If we’re not talking about how you gonna have more money in your pocket; if we’re not talking about how we’re gonna close this wealth gap; if we’re not talking about how you and your kids are going to access healthcare or education or housing or funds for your own business or raising the wage so that people can actually have a liable wage. If we’re not talking about that, then we ain’t really got nothing to talk about. And anybody that is talking about other things, I need people to quickly recognize that it is nothing more than a distraction.
I always know how to stay on point and stay on message. You know, I may get emotional when I say stuff because at the end of the day, like this isn’t a game for me. I don’t do politics because it’s like, “Oh, I grew up in a household where I always knew that this is where I was going.” That’s not what it is. This is a calling on my life. This is what I truly believe… I can tell you that I never saw any of this playing out like this. These were not plans. And so right now, one thing I know how to do is work. I know how to hustle. And I also know how to beat back the haters that have doubted me, right? Because I’ve been doubted over and over. That’s kind of what it is to be a Black woman in America. But that ain’t stop me. So we’re not gonna let us stop as this time.
The Root: Something else that you’ve been credited with is knowing how to get people to the voting booth. What is your secret to getting Americans involved, especially when so many people don’t want to be involved?
Crockett: Well, it wouldn’t be a secret if I told you! But what I will say is that I don’t think it’s a secret. I think it’s authenticity. I think it’s building a rapport. And I think what we’re seeing right now, and the reason that people naturally were putting my name into the hat and it wasn’t me that was putting my name into the hat. It was other people. They were naturally seeing me as the potential contender. I think it is a level of trust and rapport. A lot of people don’t trust politicians, and I honestly don’t blame them, and I don’t beat anybody down about not trusting them, because I didn’t… I give people the permission structure to critique and criticize and ask questions because that’s what democracy looks like.
As the child of a preacher, it always be people at the church that want to beat somebody into Christianity. That is not gonna be how it’s gonna happen, right? They’ve always said, just show people through how you live, and then you will bring people to God. It’s the exact same thing. I can tell you, “I’m a good guy,” I can tell you “I’m a different politician,” or I can just show you.
… People have been following me for years, and I’ve never changed. And so, you know, they are gonna be people that are gonna try to write my story for other people and try to define me. And the problem is that I’ve been defining myself for almost six years, and I am battle tested, right? There’s too much on the line to have somebody that is untested, especially in this kind of environment, and not knowing whether or not they will back down, because a lives depend on this. This is a life or death, and that’s, like, not hyperbole.
… It’s not time to play politics. It’s not time to say, “Oh, I’m just going to be a flunky for the president.” It’s time to have somebody that is actually going to put people first. And at the end of the day, I don’t think that’s a Democrat or a Republican. If you care about food on your table, a roof over your head, money in your pocket, there’s only one candidate that is– at least in a general election–it’s gonna give you that. And not just saying it, but has bills and letters and advocacy, and investigation that she’s engaged in to show that that’s who she is.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.