House Dem TV star Jasmine Crockett struggles to break into leadership
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Rep. Jasmine Crockett at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Jan. 4. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
A rising Democratic star and cable TV mainstay is facing strong headwinds in her eleventh-hour effort to take down one of House Democrats' senior leaders.
Why it matters: Despite Democrats failing to take the House back from Republicans, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.) inner circle is on track to stay basically intact.
State of play: The race between Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) to be chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee is one of House Democrats' only contested leadership races.
- Dingell, the 70-year-old incumbent DPCC chair, has served in Congress since 2015 and is the widow of congressional icon John Dingell.
- Crockett, 43, is going into her second term and has become known as a fierce political combatant of Republicans and an MSNBC regular.
What we're hearing: Lawmakers from across the Democratic caucus told Axios that Dingell is seen as the clear favorite going into the election on Tuesday.
- While most said they like Crockett personally and admire her communication skills, they noted that Dingell has been building support for months, while Crockett's campaign only began last week.
- To some of Crockett's colleagues, her outreach has felt rushed and pro forma: "I got a text from her [Sunday] morning, but the election's Tuesday," exclaimed one fellow Progressive Caucus member.
What they're saying: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Crockett's fellow Black Caucus member, said she is "everything I want in a leader" but had to decline her request for his support.
- "I told her she waited kind of late. I made a commitment to Dingell," Cleaver told Axios.
- Many Democrats noted Crockett is known in the caucus primarily for her TV appearances. "The outward-facing stuff doesn't always pay off," said one senior House Democrat.
The other side: Crockett told Axios she only decided to run last Thursday and acknowledged she is the underdog, saying, "I'm a freshman in the House, and so there's definitely loyalties."
- Dingell "is a member who has been in the House for a decade, so I'm a little behind on relationship building, obviously," she added.
- Still, Crockett said she is urging colleagues to "vote for who is best in this moment," adding, "If there's one thing that I'm known for, it's my ability to communicate."
Zoom out: Crockett is predicating her run in large part on the perceived messaging failures in the 2024 election and the argument of younger Democrats that the party must do a better job of using new technology and media.
- "I think it's healthy to at least explore — not withstanding one's age — the idea that someone offers something different," said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.), a Crockett supporter.
- Noting Democrats' 2024 election loss, Carter said lawmakers should listen to those party members with "some new ideas and some new thoughts on how we can better message."
- He pointed to Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), the Gen Z congressman who is seen as a shoo-in to become one of the DPCC's three co-chairs.
The bottom line: "In a member election, you do have to work members ... and she hasn't done enough to this point," said one House Democrat.
