Jasmine Crockett says primary voters were ‘disenfranchised’ amid confusion

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — Representative Jasmine Crockett, the Texas Democrat who was running for her party’s nomination in the Senate election, said Tuesday night that voters had been disenfranchised.

She told supporters at a primary watch party in Dallas that she received emails and phone calls from people who claimed to have been denied entry into polls, which the congresswoman said were later allowed to stay open.

“We were able to keep the polls open, but I can tell you now that people have been disenfranchised,” Crockett said.

“The reason that we knew that there were problems is because we were receiving the phone calls and the emails.”

Local officials reported that a large number of people in the home counties of Crockett and her opponent, state Representative James Talarico, initially went to the wrong polls. Many voters were unaware they had specific precincts after a few years of being able to vote anywhere in their county. The local Republican parties exited agreements several weeks ago that allowed countywide voting.

“And so they specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why,” Crockett said about the GOP, without explaining.

The National News Desk requested comment from the state Republican party but hasn’t received a response. Dallas County’s party chairman reportedly said in January, though, that voters would receive registration cards showing their assigned precinct.

“I would hate to believe that we have devolved to a point where we feel the voting electorate is too incompetent to read their own voter registration card,” Chairman Allen West told election news outlet Votebeat.

The Texas Democratic Party accused the GOP of complicating voting.

“Let’s be clear about what happened here,” Chairman Kendall Scudder said in a statement. “Both counties have spent a million dollars trying to get the word out about this change — a million dollars of taxpayer money that didn’t need to be spent. Democrats pushed for a joint election. As it has been for eight years, It would have been cheaper, simpler, and more accessible for every voter in the county. Republicans said no.”

Crockett conceded to Talarico Wednesday morning and encouraged Democrats to unite around the nominee.

“Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person,” she wrote in a social media post. “This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win.”

Talarico will face either incumbent Senator John Cornyn or state Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican candidates who will compete in a runoff after failing to meet a threshold of half the vote.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.