SiriusXM Urban View host Karen Hunter and guest host Roderick Morrow reacted strongly to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s loss in the Texas Democratic Senate primary, raising questions about turnout, race and the challenge Democrats face heading into the general election.
Hunter said the result was frustrating, particularly because Crockett drew significant voter enthusiasm. “This country puts them through a lot,” Hunter said. “I hate to see it, but I love to see when you care.”
Texas Democrats chose state Rep. James Talarico as their nominee, setting up a November race against the Republican candidate backed by former President Donald Trump. Hunter noted that Democratic turnout in the primary surged. “Democrats showed up in numbers. It was a record,” she said. “Triple what showed up in the last midterm primary.” She added that many voters appeared motivated by Crockett’s campaign. “Half of those people that showed up were voting for the first time and half of those people were showing up specifically for Jasmine Crockett,” Hunter said.
Morrow weighed in, noting that several factors likely shaped the outcome, including the challenges faced by Black women candidates.
“You can never discount being Black or a woman running for office,” Morrow said. “It just is what it is. Nothing you can do about those immutable characteristics.” Morrow also noted Crockett entered the race late after being pushed out of another position she had held. “She ends up hopping in this campaign late,” he said. “Talarico already had a ground game going.”
Despite the loss, Morrow said Crockett’s campaign mobilized voters who do not typically participate in primaries. “She focuses on getting people out to vote that typically would not vote,” he said. “She did that and she barely lost.”
Both hosts said Democrats must now focus on building a broader coalition for the general election. Morrow argued that campaigns cannot assume support from any group of voters.
“Go earn the vote,” he said. “The same way you talk about reaching other communities, you have to go talk to Black voters and earn those votes.”
