Staff Reports
Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s FIRE PAC just rolled out an endorsement list and left the party’s Texas Senate nominee off it. That small omission has blown up into a loud public fight inside the Democratic Party — and it shows how personal grudges and theater still beat practical politics. If Democrats want to win in Texas, they’ll need unity. If they prefer drama, carry on.
The latest development: FIRE PAC leaves Talarico off the list
The news here is simple: Fueling Individual Rights Everywhere (FIRE PAC), the leadership PAC tied to Rep. Jasmine Crockett, published an endorsements page that backs mostly county and state candidates — and it does not include James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas. That omission is the fresh spark. Crockett replied on social media that she won’t waste energy on “negative or false” claims and that her PAC supports candidates who applied. Translation: Talarico didn’t make her PAC’s cut, and Crockett isn’t going to explain why.
Why this matters: unity, optics, and campaigning in Texas
On paper, FIRE PAC’s list looks like a local playbook, not a statewide funding shove. But politics is also about optics. Leaving the party’s Senate nominee off your PAC list sends a message — intentional or not — that you’re not fully on board. That matters in a tight race where turnout and enthusiasm can swing the result. Voters don’t love watching Democrats air their grievances while the other side runs TV ads and door-knocks. If the aim is to win the Senate seat in Texas, snipes and symbolic slights are not the strategy.
Crockett’s response and the backlash
Crockett insists she called Talarico to congratulate him and that she’ll “do her part” while focusing resources on the candidates who applied to FIRE PAC. Critics, though, aren’t buying the neutral-sounding language. Former Rep. Susan Wild’s crude response — “F— her” — is one sign of raw anger. Other Democrats have noted Crockett’s earlier public doubt about enthusiasm for Talarico among some Black voters, which makes the omission look less accidental and more like a continued cold shoulder. Whether Crockett is protecting principles or nursing a sore ego, voters see division.
Bottom line: symbolism matters more than Crockett admits
This is about more than one PAC list. It’s a test of whether Democrats in Texas will act like a team or a reality show. Crockett can choose to focus on down-ballot races — that’s her right — but when your PAC refuses to endorse the party’s nominee, it’s a statement. If Democrats want to win tough races, they need every influential voice pulling in the same direction, not performing passive-aggressive virtue signaling. For now, FIRE PAC’s endorsement list is a little piece of proof that the party still has work to do on unity, discipline, and picking fights that actually help win elections.
