Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) suffered a significant political setback Monday, officially withdrawing from the race to become the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee after finishing last in the internal vote among candidates. The Texas lawmaker’s departure ends a short-lived campaign marked by bold rhetoric but little support within the caucus.
In a video statement released following the vote by the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, Crockett acknowledged her defeat plainly. “I placed last in the recommendation from steering policy. And so with that, I am not going to be playing full caucus for a vote tomorrow,” she said. Her remarks, filled with vague justifications and repetition — including the line “it just kind of is what it is” — did little to clarify the reasons behind her poor showing.
Crockett alluded to unnamed “recent questions about something that just wasn’t true,” suggesting outside controversy may have played a role. However, she declined to elaborate further, instead insisting she would “gracefully bow out.”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) says she came in last on Monday in the race to be ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.
She sheepishly says she was accused of something that she says isn’t true and that’s why she lost.
Crockett shouldn’t even be in Congress. pic.twitter.com/0nV5GpLrjN
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) June 24, 2025
Just weeks earlier, on June 3, Crockett had declared her candidacy with a fiery statement that promised aggressive oversight in the face of a second Trump administration. She framed herself as a fighter prepared to “pull back the curtain on the unmitigated chaos under Trump 2.0.” But her confrontational messaging and progressive posture failed to rally enough support among her colleagues, some of whom viewed her more as a media personality than a consensus builder.
House Democrats instead selected Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) as the new ranking member, replacing the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), who passed away in May. Garcia secured the post after defeating Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) in a final internal vote.
His selection reflects the caucus’s apparent preference for a steadier hand on a committee that is expected to be central to Democratic oversight efforts, particularly if Republicans lose the House in 2026.
Crockett’s loss also highlights the persistent challenges facing younger, more outspoken Democrats seeking to break into the upper echelons of House leadership. This marks her second leadership defeat in less than a year, following a failed November bid to chair the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee — a post crucial to shaping party messaging.
The outcome further underscores tensions within the Democratic caucus as it grapples with internal divisions, generational shifts, and the aftermath of its 2024 election losses. While progressive members like Crockett and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) continue to draw national attention, their efforts to climb the leadership ladder often run into resistance from colleagues favoring experience, seniority, and a more traditional approach.
