Rep. Jasmine Crockett Makes Play To Be Top House Dem

Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett is throwing her hat in the ring to be the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Crockett’s push to become one of the most powerful House Democrats comes after Rep. Gerry Connolly passed away last month while serving as the ranking member. Crocket had hinted she was mulling a bid, but she made it official with a letter to colleagues on Tuesday.

“In this moment, Americans are demanding a more strategic, aggressive, and energetic fight,” she wrote in the letter. “Understanding that fierce urgency, I formally announce my candidacy for Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform—with a focus on standing up for American families, defending the Constitution and the rule of law, and ensuring the government serves the people, not the privileged few,” she continued.

Crockett went on to attack the Trump administration, arguing the U.S. is in an “existential crisis driven by an out-of-control Executive with a flagrant disregard for our Constitution, our way of governance, and our very way of life as citizens of a democratic republic.”

Crockett wrote that whoever takes over the position “must lay out our case against Trump 2.0 and his accomplices, the Republicans in the House, and discharge this message across the nation.”

Three other Democrats have already thrown their names in the ring for the top spot, including Reps. Robert Garcia, Stephen Lynch, and Kweisi Mfume. Lynch, 70, is the interim ranking member. Crockett has made a name for herself for going after MAGA Republicans, frequently landing herself in hot water for her offensive remarks. (RELATED: FEC Launches Investigation into Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s ActBlue Donations Amid Fraud Concerns) Speaking at the Human Rights Campaign‘s 2025 Los Angeles dinner, Crockett cracked a joke aimed at disabled Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) that immediately set off a wave of criticism. “We in these hot ass Texas streets, honey. Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there,” she said, referencing Abbott’s wheelchair. “And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot ass mess, honey!”

🚨WATCH: Rep. JASMINE CROCKETT calls Texas Governor Greg Abbott "Governor Hot Wheels."

Abbott is paralyzed below the waist and has used a wheelchair for over 40 years. pic.twitter.com/JCZOSYF8oM

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 25, 2025

Abbott, a Republican, was paralyzed in 1984 after a tree fell on him while jogging in Houston. The accident left him in a wheelchair, but it didn’t stop him from climbing the ranks of Texas politics—first as attorney general, then governor. He’s held that office since 2015. Crockett also recently made waves on social media after sharing an anecdote during a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight meeting that many critics have seized upon to accuse her of being a “DEI hire.” Crockett, a former public defender, described how she landed the job despite having no criminal defense experience, citing her race as the reason for being hired. The comments have ignited a firestorm of backlash, with social media users mocking and criticizing the congresswoman for an unapologetic admission of benefitting from discriminatory hiring practices. (RELATED: Jasmine Crockett Outs Herself As DEI Hire) During the meeting, Crockett reflected on her early career as a public defender, revealing the following exchange with her then-boss, Charlie:

“When I first became a public defender, I had no criminal defense experience, and I walked in, and I told my boss, Charlie, I said, ‘Listen, you should hire me.’ He said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because I’m black.’”