Harris Breaks Post-Election Silence to Back Crockett in Pivotal Texas Senate Primary

2026-02-28 politics

Austin, Saturday, 28 February 2026.
Marking her first major return to politics since 2024, Harris endorses Crockett via robocall, intervening in a statistically tied race just days before the critical Texas primary.

A High-Stakes Intervention

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has broken her post-2024 political silence to endorse U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Democratic Senate primary. On Friday, February 27, Harris released a robocall urging voters to support Crockett, describing her as a “fighter” capable of holding political opponents accountable [1][3]. This intervention arrives just days before the March 3 primary election, marking Harris’s first involvement in a contested Democratic primary of this magnitude since leaving office [1][2]. The endorsement targets the final stretch of the campaign, coinciding with the conclusion of early voting in the state [1][4].

The Polling Landscape

The endorsement comes as Crockett faces a statistically deadlocked race against state Representative James Talarico. Polling data presents a conflicting picture of the electorate; while a University of Texas poll conducted earlier in February showed Crockett leading by 12 percentage points, other surveys suggest a much tighter contest [6][7]. The Decision Desk HQ polling average places Talarico at 44.4 percent support compared to Crockett’s 44.1 percent, a margin of just 0.3 percentage points [5]. Internal polling from the Talarico campaign and an Emerson College survey have also shown Talarico with a single-digit lead, underscoring the volatility of the race [7].

A Strategic Return to the Arena

Harris’s decision to weigh in reflects a deep personal and political alliance. Crockett served as a national co-chair for Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign and has publicly described the former Vice President as a mentor who provided counsel before she entered the Senate race [1][5]. In the robocall, Harris emphasized this connection, stating, “Jasmine has the experience and record to hold Donald Trump and his billionaire cronies accountable,” explicitly framing the election around national opposition strategy [2][3]. This move tests Harris’s enduring political capital; since her 2024 defeat, she has remained largely on the sidelines, endorsing only a few close allies such as New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno and Dan Koh in Massachusetts [1][3].

Divergent Paths for Texas Democrats

The primary contest highlights contrasting approaches within the Texas Democratic Party. Crockett, representing a Dallas-based district, has campaigned on a platform of aggressive advocacy, while Talarico, from the Austin suburbs, has emphasized his ability to appeal to a broader coalition including independents and Republicans [2][7]. Talarico has cited his previous electoral success in a state legislative seat carried by Donald Trump as evidence of his cross-party appeal [2]. The race has generated significant engagement, with early voting numbers already surpassing the total participation of the 2022 primary [7].

The General Election Stakes

The victor will face a challenging general election landscape against the Republican nominee, where the field is equally turbulent. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn is facing a strong primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton. Recent polling indicates Paxton leading Cornyn 38.7 percent to 33.9 percent, potentially forcing a runoff election scheduled for May 26 [2][5]. With the Senate balance at stake in the 2026 midterms, the outcome of these primaries could prove pivotal in determining whether Democrats have a viable path to contesting the seat [1][5].

Sources

Texas Senate Democratic Primary