For U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, Texas’ redistricting saga may be a case of “six seven” — a newly vogue nonsensical term that often elicits confusion.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the state’s new congressional maps Thursday, making any possible reelection to his District 33 seat an uphill climb. This sets up a filing deadline cliffhanger: Will U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett run for Senate, leaving her overwhelmingly Democratic District 30 free and clear for Veasey?
The Dallas Democrat plans to make a “special announcement” at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8, just 90 minutes before the deadline for candidates to file for the 2026 midterm elections. The expectation is that she will announce her bid for U.S. Senate, telling MSNOW, “I am closer to ‘yes’ than I am to ‘no.’”
Veasey isn’t saying anything publicly yet. He did not return a call from the Fort Worth Report seeking comment and his spokesperson referred inquiries to a Punchbowl news article that suggested he’d run for District 30.
“He doesn’t want to upset her apple cart,” said Mark Jones, professor of political science at Rice University. “Jasmine Crockett controls his destiny.”
Veasey’s District 33, which had included parts of Fort Worth, was redrawn to be entirely in Dallas County. Crockett’s District 30 now stretches more west into Tarrant County.
“It makes perfect sense for Marc to represent that district,” said Matt Angle, director of the Lone Star Project, a Democratic political action committee based in Fort Worth. “He brings competency and seniority that neither Texas nor the region can afford to lose.”
Of course, that depends on whether Crockett moves forward with a Senate bid, something political experts were still hedging about a few days before the filing deadline.
“It’s more likely than not, but it’s not a certainty,” said Jones, the Rice professor of political science. “There are some Texas Democrats trying to get her to change her mind because her run means a divisive primary.”
Already in the running on the Democratic side are former Dallas congressman Colin Allred, who lost to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, and Texas legislator James Talarico, D-Austin, although Allred has not yet filed.
“I’m not sure she’s going to do it,” said Calvin Jillson, political science professor at Southern Methodist University. He acknowledges Crockett has signaled a run, but said, “I think her Senate chances are pretty slim.”
On the GOP side, incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn told reporters Thursday of Crockett’s possible entry into the race: “I’d be happy to have her run.”
In the general election, the progressive Crockett would be less of a draw for independents against the moderate Cornyn, political experts said. In the primary, Cornyn faces hardline challengers Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston.
Should she run, it’s an opportunity — a lifeline — for Veasey, the experts said.
“It creates a situation where he and Julie don’t have to face off in 33,” Jones said.
Dallas Democrat Julie Johnson represents District 32, which now heavily favors a Republican candidate. The upheld map meant she could likely jump to the newly designed District 33, which now holds a large portion of her old district.
The mid-decade redistricting, encouraged by President Donald Trump, created five new GOP-leaning districts, potentially reducing the number of Texas U.S. Democratic districts from 13 to eight out of a delegation of 38 members.
Veasey, who was elected to Congress in 2012, previously said he intended to seek reelection to his District 33 seat after a three-judge federal district court panel temporarily blocked the map. The Supreme Court decisively killed that option, 6-3, Thursday, blocking the lower court decision.
Maria Recio is a freelance reporter based in Washington, D.C.
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