Texas Redistricting Sparks Democratic Uprising as Crockett Eyes Senate Seat

Paul Riverbank, 10/23/2025Texas redistricting prompts Rep. Crockett's bold Senate bid, challenging traditional political strategies.

The Political Chessboard: Strategic Moves in Texas and New Hampshire Reshape 2024 Landscape

Having covered Capitol Hill for over two decades, I've witnessed my fair share of political gambits. But Rep. Jasmine Crockett's latest move? Now that's something worth unpacking.

The freshman Democrat from Texas dropped quite the bombshell on SiriusXM last week. Rather than simply accepting the redistricting squeeze play that threatens her House seat, she's eyeing what might be the boldest counter-move I've seen in recent memory – a run for the Senate.

"If you want to take my seat of 766,000 away, I feel like there has to be some karma in that to where I take your seat that is for 30 million away," she declared. I couldn't help but smile at the audacity of it. It's the kind of political jiu-jitsu that makes covering American politics endlessly fascinating.

Let's be clear about what's happening in Texas. Gov. Abbott's redistricting plan wasn't subtle – it carved out five new Republican-leaning districts with surgical precision. I've seen my share of redistricting battles, but this one's particularly brazen. The new maps have sent shock waves through Texas politics, leaving both parties scrambling to adjust their game plans.

But here's what really catches my attention: Crockett's not playing by the old rulebook. While traditional campaigns focus on turning out reliable voters, she's talking about expanding the electorate entirely. It reminds me of Stacey Abrams' Georgia strategy, though Texas presents a whole different set of challenges.

Meanwhile, up in granite country, John Sununu's throwing his hat back in the ring. Now there's a name that brings back memories. I remember covering his first Senate victory back in 2002 – he was the fresh face then, running as a reform-minded conservative. Today, he's positioning himself as the voice of reason in an increasingly polarized political environment.

"Somebody has to step up and lower the temperature," Sununu told me during a recent phone call. "Somebody has to get things done." Coming from a family dynasty in New Hampshire politics, he knows a thing or two about coalition-building.

The contrast between these two races couldn't be more striking. In Texas, we're watching a progressive Democrat bet big on changing the electoral math itself. Up in New Hampshire, we've got an old-school Republican trying to thread the needle between moderation and party loyalty.

Stephen A. Smith's recent criticism of Crockett for not being "bipartisan enough" misses the point, in my view. In today's political climate, bipartisanship often means something very different than it did even a decade ago.

Both candidates face unique hurdles. Crockett needs to figure out how to mobilize historically disengaged voters in a state where that's proven exceptionally difficult. Sununu's challenge? Navigating a Republican primary where moderation isn't exactly in vogue these days.

One thing's certain – 2024 is shaping up to be anything but predictable. And for those of us who've made careers out of analyzing American politics, that's exactly what makes it worth watching.

The Political Chessboard: Strategic Moves in Texas and New Hampshire Reshape 2024 LandscapeHaving covered Capitol Hill for over two decades, I've witnessed my fair share of political gambits. But Rep. Jasmine Crockett's latest move? Now that's something worth unpacking.The freshman Democrat from Texas dropped quite the bombshell on SiriusXM last week. Rather than simply accepting the redistricting squeeze play that threatens her House seat, she's eyeing what might be the boldest counter-move I've seen in recent memory – a run for the Senate."If you want to take my seat of 766,000 away, I feel like there has to be some karma in that to where I take your seat that is for 30 million away," she declared. I couldn't help but smile at the audacity of it. It's the kind of political jiu-jitsu that makes covering American politics endlessly fascinating.Let's be clear about what's happening in Texas. Gov. Abbott's redistricting plan wasn't subtle – it carved out five new Republican-leaning districts with surgical precision. I've seen my share of redistricting battles, but this one's particularly brazen. The new maps have sent shock waves through Texas politics, leaving both parties scrambling to adjust their game plans.But here's what really catches my attention: Crockett's not playing by the old rulebook. While traditional campaigns focus on turning out reliable voters, she's talking about expanding the electorate entirely. It reminds me of Stacey Abrams' Georgia strategy, though Texas presents a whole different set of challenges.Meanwhile, up in granite country, John Sununu's throwing his hat back in the ring. Now there's a name that brings back memories. I remember covering his first Senate victory back in 2002 – he was the fresh face then, running as a reform-minded conservative. Today, he's positioning himself as the voice of reason in an increasingly polarized political environment."Somebody has to step up and lower the temperature," Sununu told me during a recent phone call. "Somebody has to get things done." Coming from a family dynasty in New Hampshire politics, he knows a thing or two about coalition-building.The contrast between these two races couldn't be more striking. In Texas, we're watching a progressive Democrat bet big on changing the electoral math itself. Up in New Hampshire, we've got an old-school Republican trying to thread the needle between moderation and party loyalty.Stephen A. Smith's recent criticism of Crockett for not being "bipartisan enough" misses the point, in my view. In today's political climate, bipartisanship often means something very different than it did even a decade ago.Both candidates face unique hurdles. Crockett needs to figure out how to mobilize historically disengaged voters in a state where that's proven exceptionally difficult. Sununu's challenge? Navigating a Republican primary where moderation isn't exactly in vogue these days.One thing's certain – 2024 is shaping up to be anything but predictable. And for those of us who've made careers out of analyzing American politics, that's exactly what makes it worth watching.