Texas Senate Race Heats Up as Cornyn Labels Crockett a “Performance Artist”

By Michael Katz | Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, brushed off remarks made by Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, as she launched a campaign bid to challenge him in next year’s elections, saying it was tough to respond to “the ravings of a lunatic.”

Crockett decided to run for Senate after Texas’ redrawn congressional map gave her a tougher road for reelection.

During her kickoff Senate campaign event Monday, she accused Cornyn of “forgetting” that “he works for 30 million people in Texas not one Florida man who’s never called this state home,” referring to President Donald Trump.

“Cornyn used to actually try and help Texas. He used to speak out against Trump, the candidate, and denounced the border wall,” she said.

“What happened, Big John? Now all you’re doing is bending the knee, kissing the ring, and running ads about how you vote 99% of the time with Trump.”

When asked to respond, Cornyn called Crockett a “performance artist” who “doesn’t really understand why she’s here in Washington.” He stated she views her job as “making outrageous statements and becoming famous, getting on TV, and chasing the most clicks on social media and raising money.”

“That’s not what I count as success,” he said. “I’ve served in the Senate for a while now, and I believe we’re here to deliver results for all Texans—and I’ve been proud of the work we’ve done.”

Cornyn also noted that Crockett’s candidacy underscores how far left the Democratic primary electorate has moved, pointing to former Rep. Colin Allred—who challenged Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024—opting not to run for Senate in 2026 as evidence of the party’s ideological shift.

“They want no part of what Jasmine Crockett is selling,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn addressed his own tight primary race, citing recent polling that shows him with a narrow lead over Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. He added, “March is a long way away in politics. We’ve closed the gap—and we are surging ahead.”

The senator highlighted his record of supporting Trump in the Senate, noting votes for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, confirmations of federal judges—including three Supreme Court justices—and $11.1 billion in reimbursements to Texas for border-related costs.

“I want to remind voters of my conservative record,” he said.

Asked about Trump’s potential endorsement, Cornyn stated it would have a decisive impact on the race. He added that he continues speaking with Trump but is preparing to run hard regardless of timing: “We can’t wait. We’re continuing to get prepared and execute our plan.”