- Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett made controversial remarks about Gov. Greg Abbott at a Los Angeles fundraising event, later insisting her comments were not about his disability. Disability advocates and Republican lawmakers criticized her words.
- Gov. Abbott and Texas Republicans condemned her remarks, with Rep. Randy Weber filing a censure resolution against her for “venomous rhetoric.”
- Despite some backlash, Crockett remains a rising figure in the Democratic Party, ranking sixth in a CNN poll of Democratic leaders, ahead of prominent figures like Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi.
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Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett took the stage in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 22, as a guest speaker at a Human Rights Campaign fundraising dinner.
She began her speech with a lighthearted remark, saying, “Listen, so, if you’ve ever paid any attention to me, y’all know that I always have remarks and then something else happens. Y’all just pray for me because who knows what I’m going to end up saying.”
A few minutes into her speech, Crockett made a controversial statement about Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
What did Rep. Crockett say?
“We in these hot-[expletive] Texas streets, honey. Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there, come on now. And the only hot thing about him is that he is a hot-[expletive] mess, honey, so um yes, yes, yes.”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas
Crockett later insisted that her comments were not about the governor’s disability. However, some disability advocacy groups and Republican lawmakers suggested that the remarks targeted Abbott’s wheelchair use.
Disability advocacy groups respond
Josie Byzek, a spokesperson for the United Spinal Association, responded to Crockett’s comments.
“Representative Crockett has a history of protecting the programs and rights of people with disabilities, and that’s wonderful. At the same time, the stigma is real,” Byzek said.
Another disability rights advocate, Emily Ladau, told Politico, “If the Democrats want to be as inclusive as they claim they do and ensure that people with disabilities are actually recognized as being welcome under their political umbrella, then you have to be thoughtful about your words. When Crockett made that joke, she was really punching down, and she knew that she would get a laugh.”
Crockett clarifies her remarks
Crockett addressed the controversy on X, stating, “I wasn’t thinking about the governor’s condition — I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable.”
She also criticized the backlash, saying, “I’m even more appalled that the very people who unequivocally support Trump — a man known for racially insensitive nicknames and mocking those with disabilities — are now outraged.”
How did Gov. Abbott respond?
Gov. Abbott responded to Crockett’s remarks on Fox News, Tuesday, March 25.
“It’s another day and another disaster for the Democrats. The reality is they have no vision, no policy, nothing to sell but hate.”
Gov. Greg Abbott
Following her comments, Texas Republican Rep. Randy Weber filed a censure resolution against Crockett, stating, “She must be censured and held accountable for the venomous rhetoric she spews as a representative of the Democratic Party.”
The resolution also referenced another controversial exchange between Crockett and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, where Crockett and Greene traded criticisms over the other congresswoman’s appearance.
Rep. Crockett’s popularity among Democrats rising
Despite Republican criticism, Crockett remains a favorite within the Democratic Party.
A new CNN poll ranked her among the top contenders for “who Democrats believe is the leader of the party.” She placed sixth, ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received the most votes.
