On November 3, 2026—Election Day—U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett appeared on The Breakfast Club to discuss her loss in the March Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas and the broader role of the Democratic Party. In the interview, the progressive lawmaker from Texas’s 30th District directly addressed the primary contest she lost to state Rep. James Talarico, stating that racist attacks came from the Democratic side rather than Republicans.
Crockett said she expected Republican opposition ads but found those comparatively fair. “The best ads, the ads that I felt like were fair were actually the Republican ads,” she told the hosts. She continued: “The racist ads were coming from the super PAC on behalf of my Democratic opponent.”
This referred to Lone Star Rising PAC, an outside group supporting Talarico. During the primary, Crockett had accused the PAC of running advertisements that darkened her complexion and framed her electability in what she called racist terms, including messaging that Republicans preferred her as the nominee because “If she wins, we lose.” She previously described such tactics as “straight up racist” and criticized Talarico for not condemning them. The Texas Tribune reported that the ad used a dark filter across footage, including other people, and that Talarico’s campaign stated it had no involvement in the independent expenditure, noting federal rules against coordination.
Crockett had made similar claims earlier in 2026. At the Essence Festival in July, she called the primary “a racist race,” saying, “It was racist. It was a racist race. It is what it is,” while noting America’s history and arguing she faced unique pressure as a high-profile Black woman.
In the Breakfast Club appearance, she also discussed Democratic strategy, urging voters not to demand perfection (citing an “80-20 rule”) and to support the full ticket, while emphasizing the need for the party to invest in Black wealth and economic power rather than relying solely on Black votes. She has been relatively muted in her post-primary support for Talarico, focusing instead on down-ballot candidates to boost Black turnout, and has described their campaign philosophies as different.
Hours after the interview, Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the general election, becoming the first Democrat to win a Texas U.S. Senate seat since 1988. The primary had been contentious, with public debates over electability, racial messaging, and voter coalitions in a state where Democrats have long struggled statewide.
Crockett’s comments highlight ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party over race, candidate viability, and campaign tactics in competitive states.
SOURCES:
Jasmine Crockett Accuses Pro-Talarico PAC of Racist Ads
Jasmine Crockett says Texas Democratic Senate primary was racist | Fox News
Jasmine Crockett Avoids Praising Talarico When Asked
Texas Democrats Are Frustrated Talarico Hasn’t Done More to Win Black Voters – The Washington Sun
