Jasmine Crockett Behind in Democratic Primary Race with Under 50 Days Until Election Day: POLL

Poll Results Show Lead for Texas Rep. Crockett

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, is reportedly holding a significant lead over her opponent, James Talarico, as the March 3 primary approaches, with new polling indicating almost a double-digit difference.

The Emerson College Poll, released recently, shows that 47% of Democratic primary voters favor Talarico, while Crockett garners 38% support. A notable 15% of voters remain undecided. Both candidates aim to challenge Republican Senator John Cornyn, who is also in a competitive race against Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Spencer Kimball, the poll’s executive director, mentioned that Talarico has a considerable 22-point lead among male voters, yet the two appear to be evenly matched among female voters. The poll highlights that nearly 60% of Hispanic Democrats prefer Talarico, while around 80% of Black Democrats lean towards Crockett.

Crockett has stirred controversy within her own party, particularly for comments regarding Latino voters supporting strict immigration policies, which she labeled as exhibiting a “slave mentality.” Such remarks may also create friction with moderate Democrats and independents, crucial for any potential general election win.

In a past conversation with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Crockett asserted that he didn’t need to sway Republican voters to succeed in Texas, despite the GOP’s advantageous voter registration in the state.

Talarico’s campaign has shown strong fundraising capabilities, reporting close to $7 million in its last quarter. In contrast, Crockett, who entered the primary race in early December, has yet to disclose her fourth-quarter fundraising totals.

Historically, Texas has been a tough landscape for Democrats, who haven’t secured a statewide election since 1994. However, some polls suggest that the state could tilt in favor of Democrats if Paxton, viewed by many Republicans as a less viable candidate for the general election, clinches the GOP nomination.

In general election matchups, Crockett and Talarico are almost evenly positioned against Paxton, with around 8% of voters undecided. However, both Cornyn and Hunt seem to outpace Crockett by five points and have a slight edge over Talarico as well.

Paxton’s recent years have been marred by ethical issues, culminating in his impeachment by the Texas Legislature in 2023, although he was acquitted by the state Senate.

Currently, Paxton leads Republican primary voters with 27%, closely followed by Cornyn at 26% and Hunt at 16%. Approximately 30% of likely Republican primary voters remain undecided.

“The Republican base appears quite fragmented,” Kimball remarked, noting that both Paxton and Cornyn are struggling to secure a majority of primary votes.

Should no candidate obtain more than 50% of the vote, the top two will advance to a runoff scheduled for May 26.

All three Republican candidates are vying for former President Trump’s endorsement, though he has yet to indicate support for any before the March 3 primary.

The survey, which collected responses from 413 Democratic primary voters, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points and was conducted from January 12 to January 13.