Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Crockett.
Hi Jasmine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
As a former public defender, civil rights attorney, State Representative, and now United States Congresswoman, I have consistently used my positions as an opportunity to not only call out injustice, but to redefine what justice should look and feel like. My perseverance on this journey is driven by passion but also a deep-seated feeling of purpose. These forces initially drove me towards the law, where I began my studies at Thurgood Marshall School of Law and ultimately graduated from the University of Houston Law Center. After graduating, I moved to East Texas and began practicing law.
At that time, I began questioning if I was walking in my purpose – the same purpose that pulled me into law in the first place. The answer was an emphatic no. I began to recenter myself & debated giving up on law completely. It was around this time that a new Public Defender’s Office was to open & I knew that was where I belonged. At last, I felt like the law was truly a home for me, but the more I learned and experienced, the more I became frustrated & displeased with the “system.” I managed to resolve more cases than all of my other colleagues combined because I was just that passionate about ensuring that people weren’t languishing in jail. As the most junior PD in the office, I studied the code, stayed on top of recent decisions, and found myself using the law in ways that the county had never done before. But it still felt like I wasn’t helping enough people.
At 28, I ran for District attorney, winning the early vote but coming up short on Election Day. I then went on to become the youngest Black Democratic Party chair in the state of Texas. Eventually, I expanded my private practice, which I opened soon after my failed District Attorney bid, to Dallas. I never imagined that my satellite office would become my main office and that Dallas would take over my life, but it did.
After that District Attorney race, I was pretty confident that I didn’t ever want to put my name back in the running for a competitive race – but a decade later, there I was. I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to seek a State House seat. I went on to win that seat after being outspent 5 to 1 and having the closest margin of any state house race that cycle – only 90 votes. I didn’t fully appreciate it in that moment, but it would become abundantly clear that sometimes you just gotta lose to win. While I lost my first race, I’ve not lost any of the three after that, and my most recent win was for the opportunity to serve as only the fourth Black woman in the history of the state of Texas as a US Congresswoman. As the representative for the 30th Congressional District, it is my plan to work to earn the support of my district to return to DC in service of them for a second term.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have faced the same challenges that every Black woman in a position of leadership and responsibility has faced: the intersection of racism and sexism. Add being a progressive in a Republican-controlled state, and what might have started as a ‘glass ceiling’ turned out to be made of solid rock. So, just like every Black woman that’s walked the halls of power before me, I picked up a jackhammer and got to work.
Most people think of the position of Congresswoman as a glamorous one… and while people definitely want us to appear glamorous, this is truly the hardest work I’ve ever done and arguably the most dangerous (which is saying something considering the fact that I’ve represented some quite dangerous people as a defense lawyer). I’ve never had so many threats and harassment in my life. There are times that you question, “is it worth it?” But the answer for me is always “yes.” I have to believe that just like before, I am walking in my purpose. I refuse to allow ignorant people to intimidate me, especially when I know that the very reason I have this honor is because people were willing lay down their lives seeking just righteousness.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Since taking office in 2023, I have hit the ground running – hiring a talented and dedicated team and launching a comprehensive casework operation that has returned nearly $1,000,000 to constituents – if you’re owed money from the IRS, Social Security, the VA, or any other federal agency, we’ve got your back! I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation to combat food insecurity, high grocery costs, voter suppression, a broken justice system, drug addiction, and more. And I’ve utilized my positions on the House Oversight and House Agriculture Committees to hold government accountable, fight for the preservation of SNAP, and strengthen our food supply – all while calling out the extremism and incompetence from SOME of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
I’ve never been afraid of taking a risk – in fact, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t willing to be bold and rise to meet the moment. I went from the girl that barely won her seat to the Texas House to the one that took on nine primary opponents and four general election opponents to become the Congresswoman – because I was willing to take the risk.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://crockett.house.gov/
- Instagram: @RepJasmine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepJasmine/
- Twitter: @RepJasmine
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RepJasmine
Image Credits
United States House of Representatives
