The 30th Congressional District is rated D-78% on The Texan’s Texas Partisan Index, indicating an overwhelming likelihood of a Democratic victory on Election Day. However, there are still two candidates, J. Frank Harris and James Rogers, on the ballot in a Republican runoff for the seat.
Hamilton received only 17 percent in the Democratic primary on March 1 while Crockett received 48 percent, coming within only hundreds of votes away from an outright victory.
Johnson endorsed Crockett before she announced her candidacy, calling Crockett “the person we need in Congress at this critical time.”
Crockett was at the center of the fight over the GOP-backed Election Integrity Protection Act of 2021, which passed in a special session of the legislature last year and took effect in December.
Recalling her participation in a quorum bust in both the regular and special legislative sessions, Crockett referred to Republicans who supported the legislation as “terrorists” in a speech on the Capitol lawn last summer.
She has also faced controversy back at home, where many heavy hitters in Democratic politics have backed her opponent.
Crockett has reportedly been criticized by the family of Botham Jean, an accountant who was murdered by Dallas police officer Amber Guyger.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Crockett had falsely stated on her campaign website that she was one of the Jean family’s lawyers, which the family called “absolutely disgusting” in an open letter.
Crockett told the newspaper, “There was an error on our website that was remedied as quickly as it was brought to our attention.”
Though Crockett has received the endorsement of many of her colleagues in the Texas House, a number of them are supporting Hamilton.
Rep. Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie), the chairman of the House Democratic caucus, endorsed Hamilton.
Hamilton has also received the endorsement of Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas), Sen. Beverly Powell (D-Burleson), Commissioner John Wiley Price, former Ambassador Ron Kirk, and other influential Dallas area Democrats.
Correction: Rep. Jessica Gonzalez endorsed Crockett in the runoff. Previously, this article incorrectly stated Gonzalez had endorsed Hamilton. We regret the error.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."
