Jasmine Crockett

Jasmine Crockett
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 30th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byEddie Bernice Johnson
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 100th district
In office
January 12, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byLorraine Birabil
Succeeded byVenton Jones
Personal details
Born
Jasmine Felicia Crockett

(1981-03-29) March 29, 1981 (age 43)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationRhodes College (BA)
University of Houston (JD)
WebsiteHouse website
Campaign website

Jasmine Felicia Crockett (born March 29, 1981) is an American lawyer and politician who has been a U.S. representative from Texas's 30th congressional district since January 2023. Her district covers most of South Dallas County, Central Dallas, Dallas Love Field Airport, and parts of Tarrant County. A member of the Democratic Party, Crockett previously represented the 100th district in the Texas House of Representatives.

In the 118th Congress, Crockett serves as the Democratic freshman class representative between the House Democratic leadership and the (approximately) 35 newly-elected Democratic members.[1] Crockett was named as co-chair of the 2024 Harris-Walz campaign.

Early life and career

Crockett was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School and Rosati-Kain, an all-girls Catholic high school in St. Louis.[2] She graduated from Rhodes College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. As an undergraduate, Crockett planned to become an anesthesiologist or certified public accountant before deciding to attend law school. Crockett stated that this was due to experiencing a series of hate crimes while attending college and subsequently being represented by the Cochran Law Firm.[3]

Crockett later attended the University of Houston Law Center, graduating in 2006 with a Juris Doctor. Crockett was a member of the National Bar Association, as well, with the Dallas Black Criminal Bar Association.[4]

Crockett completed law school and passed the bar shortly thereafter in 2006. She then became a public defender for Bowie County, and formed a law firm, which was notable for taking pro bono cases for Black Lives Matter activists.[3]

Crockett is a Baptist,[5][6] and a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority[7]

Texas House of Representatives

In 2019, after Eric Johnson vacated his seat in the Texas House to serve as mayor of Dallas, a special election was held on November 5 with a runoff on January 28, 2020, for the remainder of his term, which Lorraine Birabil won.[8] Crockett challenged Birabil in the 2020 Democratic primary. She narrowly defeated Birabil in a primary runoff, advancing to the November 2020 general election, which she won unopposed. She assumed office in January 2021.[9][10]

U.S. House of Representatives

Crockett (right) with Speaker of the U.S. House Nancy Pelosi (center) and Texas State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer (left) in 2021

Elections

2022

On November 20, 2021, incumbent U.S. representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas's 30th congressional district announced she would not seek reelection in 2022.[11] Four days later, Crockett declared her candidacy for the seat. Johnson simultaneously announced that she was backing Crockett.[12][13] Crockett also received extensive financial support from Super PACs aligned with the cryptocurrency industry, with Sam Bankman-Fried's Protect Our Future PAC giving $1 million in support of her campaign.[14] In the Democratic primary election, Crockett and Jane Hope Hamilton, an aide to Marc Veasey, advanced to a runoff election,[15] which Crockett won.[16] She then won the general election on November 8.[17] Crockett was chosen to be the 118th Congress's freshman class representative.[1]

Tenure

Crockett supports supplying military aid to the Ukrainian military during their war with Russia.

Crockett was among the 46 Democrats who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[18] She voted to provide Israel with support, following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[19][20]

Crockett voted in-favor of three military aid package supplementals for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, respectively, in April 2024, along with most of her fellow Democrats.[21][22][23]

In a 2023 impeachment hearing for President Biden, Crockett criticized fellow congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Republicans for being hypocritical. She claimed that those launching the impeachment inquiry, and those who brought-forth charges against President Biden, were ignoring documented evidence of President Trump's own criminal offenses; she displayed photos from the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, depicting Trump storing classified documents inside of a bathroom (and other locations lacking security), to which she remarked, "These are our national secrets—looks like in the shitter to me."[24][25][26]

Crockett addressed the 2024 Democratic National Convention and referenced the incident. When comparing Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to Republican nominee Donald Trump, she said of the latter, "He keeps national secrets next to his thinking chair—y'all know what I said the other time."[27] She won the second term to House of Representatives in 2024[28]

Caucus memberships

Committee assignments

Rhetorical style

Crockett has been noted for her (at times, comedic) use of alliteration. In an Oversight Committee hearing on May 16, 2024, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene remarked, unprovoked, to Crockett: "I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you're reading." Committee chairman James Comer ruled that this remark did not violate House protocol. To clarify the limits on personal comments, Crockett asked "If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody's bleach-blonde, bad-built, butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?"[32][33] Comer responded with "... a what, now?" On August 19, 2024, the first night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Crockett, speaking about Republican nominee Donald Trump, asked, "will a vindictive vile villain violate voters' vision?"[34]

Electoral history

2020 Texas's 100th state house district Democratic primary[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lorraine Birabil (incumbent) 4,566 29.3
Democratic Jasmine Crockett 4,030 25.9
Democratic Sandra Crenshaw 2,944 18.9
Democratic Daniel Davis Clayton 1,665 10.9
Democratic James Armstrong III 1,315 8.5
Democratic Paul Stafford 1,046 6.7
Total votes 15,566 100.0
2020 Texas's 100th state house district Democratic primary runoff[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jasmine Crockett 5,171 50.4
Democratic Lorraine Birabil (incumbent) 5,081 49.6
Total votes 10,252 100.0
2020 Texas's 100th state house district election[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jasmine Crockett 45,550 100.0
Total votes 45,550 100.0
2022 Texas's 30th congressional district Democratic primary[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jasmine Crockett 26,798 48.5
Democratic Jane Hope Hamilton 9,436 17.1
Democratic Keisha Williams-Lankford 4,323 7.8
Democratic Barbara Mallory Caraway 4,277 7.7
Democratic Abel Mulugheta 3,284 5.9
Democratic Roy Williams 2,746 5.0
Democratic Vonciel Hill 1,886 3.4
Democratic Jessica Mason 1,858 3.4
Democratic Arthur Dixon 677 1.2
Total votes 55,285 100.0
2022 Texas's 30th congressional district Democratic primary runoff[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jasmine Crockett 17,462 60.6
Democratic Jane Hope Hamilton 11,369 39.4
Total votes 28,831 100.0
2022 Texas's 30th congressional district election[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jasmine Crockett 134,876 74.72
Republican James Rodgers 39,209 21.72
Independent Zachariah Manning 3,820 2.12
Libertarian Phil Gray 1,870 1.04
Write-in Debbie Walker 738 0.41
Total votes 180,513 100.0

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Alvey, Rebekah (December 1, 2022). "Dallas Rep.-elect Jasmine Crockett chosen for freshman House leadership role". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Robinson-Jacobs, Karen (February 16, 2022). "North County native, Texas transplant, sets sights on Congress". St. Louis American. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Civil Rights Attorney Jasmine Crockett Is Making Waves as a Texas State Representative". Darling Magazine. September 21, 2020. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  4. ^ "Jasmine Crockett". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress". Pew Research Center. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  7. ^ MEET JASMINE
  8. ^ "Texas state legislative special elections, 2019". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  9. ^ Svitek, Patrick (July 21, 2020). "State Rep. Lorraine Birabil concedes after primary runoff defeat". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Lueckemeyer, Olivia (July 14, 2020). "Jasmine Felicia Crockett edges out narrow victory over incumbent Lorraine Birabil in race for House District 100". impact. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Vakil, Caroline (November 20, 2021). "Texas Democrat Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson announces retirement at end of term". The Hill. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  12. ^ Svitek, Patrick (November 24, 2021). "Freshman state Rep. Jasmine Crockett is running for Dallas congressional seat, with Eddie Bernice Johnson's backing". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Caldwell, Emily; Marfin, Catherine (November 24, 2021). "Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett seeking Dallas U.S. House seat with Eddie Bernice Johnson's endorsement". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Svitek, Patricia (February 11, 2022). "Cryptocurrency traders' super PACs give $2 million boost to state Rep. Jasmine Crockett's congressional run". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Zhang, Andrew (May 17, 2022). "Underdog Jane Hope Hamilton angling for an upset against Jasmine Crockett in Dallas-area congressional primary". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  16. ^ Livingston, Abby (May 25, 2022). "Jasmine Crockett secures Democratic nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Democrat Jasmine Crockett wins race to succeed retiring Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson". The Dallas Morning News. November 8, 2022. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  19. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  20. ^ "Roll Call 528 | Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Washington, DC: Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. October 25, 2023. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  21. ^ "Roll Call 152 Roll Call 152, Bill Number: H. R. 8034, 118th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. April 20, 2024. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  22. ^ "Roll Call 151 Roll Call 151, Bill Number: H. R. 8035, 118th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. April 20, 2024. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  23. ^ "Roll Call 146 Roll Call 146, Bill Number: H. R. 8036, 118th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. April 20, 2024. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  24. ^ Irwin, Lauren (September 28, 2023). "Democrat in impeachment hearing calls out GOP for ignoring Trump charges". The Hill.
  25. ^ Garcia, Eric (June 20, 2024). "Jasmine Crockett wants to prove that Democrats aren't weak". The Independent.
  26. ^ Huber, Craig (September 29, 2023). "Rep. Jasmine Crocket rebukes Republicans during impeachment hearing". spectrumlocalnews.com.
  27. ^ "DNC 2024 live updates: Democratic convention kicks off; Hillary Clinton addresses delegates". NBC News. August 20, 2024.
  28. ^ "Jasmine Crockett wins reelection against third-party opponent".
  29. ^ "Congressional Equality Members". February 22, 2023. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  30. ^ "Progressive Caucus". Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  31. ^ "Membership". Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  32. ^ Eric Garcia; James Liddell (May 17, 2024). "Greene called 'bleach blonde bad-built butch body' in House screaming match where 'drinking was involved'". The Independent. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  33. ^ Judy Kurtz (May 21, 2024). "Crockett moves to trademark 'bleach blonde bad built butch body'". The Hill. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  34. ^ David Taffet (August 20, 2024). "Crockett lashes out against a vindictive vile villain violating voters' vision". Dallas Voice. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  35. ^ a b c d e f "Official Results". Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 100th district

2021–2023
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 30th congressional district

2023–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
365th
Succeeded by