Republican-led redistricting efforts drew sharp criticism from Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) on CNN, where she accused the GOP of trying to “systemically get rid” of black members of Congress. She argued these actions are racially motivated and violate constitutional protections, but others see them as hardball politics aimed at weakening the opposing party.
Key Facts:
- On Monday, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) told CNN Republicans aim to “systemically get rid” of black elected officials.
- Crockett cited redistricting efforts in Florida, Texas, Indiana, and Missouri as examples.
- She accused the GOP of “cheating” by violating the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act.
- Targets she named include Reps. James Clyburn (SC), Andre Carson (IN), Emanuel Cleaver (MO), and Emilia Sykes (OH).
- She claimed Republicans are going after three of Texas’ four black representatives.
The Rest of The Story:
Crockett’s comments came during an interview on CNN’s The Lead, where she positioned the Republican redistricting push as an attack on minority representation. She framed the issue as not just political maneuvering but a deliberate racial strategy.
She said the GOP’s motivation stems from “failed policies” and a belief they can only win by “cheating their way.” According to her, redrawing congressional maps to favor Republicans also undermines constitutional guarantees and the Voting Rights Act.
In her remarks, Crockett pointed to a number of lawmakers she says are under direct threat from these efforts — including senior figures like House Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn and long-serving members Emanuel Cleaver and Andre Carson. She also named Emilia Sykes of Ohio as a target.
The Texas Democrat stressed that in her own state, three of the four black congressional members could lose their districts under GOP-led changes. She tied these developments to a broader rollback of civil rights gains, saying they aim to “roll back all that was fought for, bled for, and died for” in past generations.
Jasmine Crockett built her entire political brand on being a “Ghetto Girl from the Hood”
But is that true? No. It’s a big lie.
I travelled to Jasmine Crockett’s actual hometown to investigate. She grew up waaaay better than you or I did.
Here’s where Crockett is really from… pic.twitter.com/fpN5QRrKHd
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 10, 2025
Commentary:
Crockett’s latest outburst fits her pattern of framing political disputes in racial terms, even when the broader reality is more about party power than skin color. In today’s political climate, both major parties aggressively target vulnerable seats. Republicans go after Democrats, and Democrats go after Republicans — that’s not racial discrimination, that’s campaign strategy.
When a party controls the redistricting process, it uses every legal and semi-legal tool available to protect its own incumbents and weaken the opposition. That means targeting the most winnable districts first, regardless of the race of the sitting representative. It’s politics 101, not a civil rights conspiracy.
Crockett’s claim that Republicans are “systematically” removing black lawmakers ignores that the GOP’s targets are chosen because they’re Democrats in competitive or flippable districts. The same approach applies when Democrats have the map-making power — they go after Republican incumbents with surgical precision.
As for Crockett herself, her political vulnerability isn’t tied to race; it’s tied to how she presents herself. Her combative style, frequent inflammatory statements, and habit of playing to the cameras may energize some in her base, but they also alienate swing voters. Every time she leans into theatrics over substance, she risks handing the GOP more ammunition.
In the ongoing competition for most obnoxious, entitled, and arrogant member of Congress, Crockett is running a strong campaign. She has stiff competition, but she’s proving she’s a serious contender in that category.
Her insistence on framing ordinary political hardball as a racially motivated plot may keep her in the headlines, but it does little to change the reality: this is partisan trench warfare, and she’s just one more soldier trying to rally her side.
The difference is, when she talks, her opponents may quietly hope she keeps going.
The Bottom Line:
Crockett’s CNN remarks accuse Republicans of racially driven redistricting, but the tactics she condemns are standard political practice used by both parties when in power.
The real goal is to weaken the other side, not target individuals based on race.
Her fiery rhetoric may play well to loyal supporters, but it also risks alienating voters who see her as more interested in stirring outrage than solving problems.
