Jasmine Crockett defeated Jane Hamilton in the Democratic Party primary runoff on May 24, 2022, in Texas’ 30th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate would run in the district’s general election on Nov. 8, 2022. As of 1:00 p.m. ET on May 25, Crockett had received 60.1% of the vote to Hamilton’s 39.9%.
Crockett has represented Texas House District 100 since January 2021 and was among the Texas House members who left the state in protest of SB1, which made a series of changes to Texas’ election administration laws. “There’s a number of people who will most likely enter this race. There are none that I believe will enter this race that have been battle tested like I have this session,” Crockett said. She said she supported “Economic recovery that includes all, fair district maps, expanding healthcare and access to the ballot box, lowering property taxes, and reforming the criminal justice and policing systems.” Johnson and a number of Texas state representatives endorsed Crockett.
Hamilton served as an adviser on Pres. Joe Biden’s (D) Texas campaign in 2020 and worked as an online program manager. She emphasized her local support, saying, “There is no other candidate in this race that has such broad support throughout the district,” and the race would be “determined by the candidate who works the hardest and gets out their supporters. And I’m experienced doing just that.” Hamilton said she supported criminal justice reform, expanding access to healthcare, and “Voters Rights legislation which prohibits States from disenfranchising people of color.” Hamilton’s endorsers included U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D), Texas State Rep. Chris Turner (D), State Sen. Beverly Powell (D), and several local officials.
Incumbent Eddie Bernice Johnson (D), who was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992, did not seek re-election. The Cook Political Report and other outlets rated the 30th district Solid Democratic.
Campaign funding was an issue in the race, with Hamilton criticizing political action committees’ expenditures on behalf of Crockett. “You are hard-pressed to find that example anywhere in the state of Texas or in North Texas, for $2 million to essentially be poured in by two super pacs, ” Hamilton said. Crockett said, “You’re always critical when you don’t have what you want. I don’t look at it that it’s anything nefarious. It’s sad that someone would insinuate that it is. This is really how elections work.”
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