The Alaska Governor’s Mansion is seen on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2022 during the annual holiday open house. (Photo by James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)
Holiday music, decorations and thousands of cookies are ready at the Governor’s Residence for the annual Holiday Open House today, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Students from the Thunder Mountain Middle School Carolers, the Juneau Douglas High School Band, Faith Christian School, and Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) will perform holiday music, while Alaska’s 15 state commissioners will serve up hot apple cider to all visitors.
Cookies and other holiday treats will be provided 17,050 cookies, 35 pounds of toffee and 90 pounds of fudge and chocolate will be served in the dining room. This year’s Christmas tree was donated by the U.S. Forest Service and was harvested from the Tongass National Forest.
The first open house was held by Territorial Governor Walter Eli Clark and his family on New Year’s Day 1913. The annual tradition has been held every year since, apart from two years during World War II and in 2020 due to COVID-19. Individuals with special accessibility needs can contact Maxine Lucero at (907) 465-3500, to arrange entry from 2:15-2:30 p.m.
Wooden gavel with books in background, News of the North File
The state of Alaska has settled lawsuits against Juul and Altria, two nicotine vapor manufacturers, for a combined $7.8 million, the state Department of Law said on Friday.
The suits were part of a nationwide pattern: Alaska and other U.S. states had alleged that the companies deliberately targeted children with advertising, something that likely contributed to a surge in nicotine use among children and young adults.
Altria settled Alaska’s lawsuit for $2 million last year, and the state announced a $5.8 million consent judgment with Juul on Friday.
Under the settlements, neither Juul nor Altria must admit fault, but both must abide by marketing restrictions. One key point in the settlement: Juul can’t use cartoons to advertise its products.
“This case took five years and a great deal of work from our public health and consumer
protection teams, but it was worth it,” said Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox, in a prepared statement.
“We now have strong court-enforceable limits on how these companies can operate in
Alaska, and we’ve obtained a per-capita recovery that ranks near the top nationally, with
those dollars going straight into prevention and consumer protection.”
Alaska was one of the last states in the country to settle with Juul, which has already paid more than $1 billion to states across the country.
Some states have since filed additional lawsuits against vape distributors, alleging that they contributed to a surge in nicotine vapor use among children and young adults.
Money from Alaska’s Juul settlement is to be paid over the next five years.
Under the financial terms of the consent judgment, half of the proceeds would be used to fund tobacco control and prevention programs, and the other half would go to the Department of Law’s consumer protection program.
Typically, the spending of money earned in financial judgments must be approved by the Alaska Legislature before becoming official.
“The use of vapes and other nicotine products among youth in Alaska remains a concern,” said Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg in a prepared statement. “This funding will help families and communities continue to access education, prevention, and cessation programs.”
Most Americans imagine human trafficking as a violent kidnapping or a “stranger danger” crime – someone abducted from a parking lot or trapped in a shipping container brought in from another country.
In most cases, traffickers spend months or even years building trust and creating emotional and economic bonds with their victims. They use a variety of coercion and control techniques such as emotional abuse, forced criminality, financial abuse, and physical and sexual abuse to entrap their victims.
Meanwhile, the perpetrators are making money off their victims’ unpaid labor, including unwanted sex work. Human trafficking is estimated to be a US$172 billion industry.
The story of Jeffrey Epstein is just one example of how traffickers use a combination of manipulation, economic dependency and coercion – rather than physical captivity – to entrap vulnerable people and slowly erode their autonomy. Many victims don’t even realize they’re being exploited due to the manipulations of their traffickers.
Epstein’s crimes have attracted the national spotlight due to the fame and power of his clientele. His case demonstrates the harsh reality that human trafficking is far more common and complex than most people imagine.
Misconceptions about what trafficking looks like have made it harder to see and harder to measure. The available data on this crime and its victims has long been fragmented, incomplete and inconsistent. Law enforcement, government organizations such as health departments, and nonprofits that provide advocacy and victim services collect information differently. The same case could be counted multiple times by different agencies, while other victims go entirely uncounted, making it nearly impossible to understand the true scope of trafficking and effectively fight it.
Florida steps up
To address this problem, Florida in 2023 passed Senate Bill 7064, a law requiring all state and local government agencies and nongovernmental organizations that receive federal or state funding to send their human trafficking data to the USF TIP lab.
We also conducted a self-report survey in 2024 to learn more about trafficking victims living in Florida. The survey was administered by YouGov using a representative sample of 2,500 Florida residents. And we established BRIGHT – Bridging Resources and Information Gaps in Human Trafficking – which connects survivors directly with services such as housing, mental health counseling, transportation and more, helping them move from crisis to stability. Besides serving as a resource for trafficking victims, BRIGHT allows us to measure and track the availability of victim services relative to the need for them.
Since starting TIPSTR in 2023, we’ve been putting all of the data together to create a picture of the complexities, depth and breadth of trafficking, as well as the resources that address the problem, both statewide and in each of Florida’s 67 counties.
All of these features make Florida economically vibrant – but they also create vulnerabilities. Transient labor markets, seasonal employment and high migration make it easier for traffickers to exploit workers and harder for authorities to detect exploitation. Often, buyers travel into Florida as tourists with the idea that “what happens in Florida stays in Florida,” creating a market for sex trafficking.
What we’ve found so far
2024 was the first full year for which we collected data, and we published our findings in July 2025 in the 2024 TIPSTR Report. The report demonstrates both the scale of the problem and the importance of reliable data.
The report also analyzes Florida counties with populations above 500,000, evaluating each county’s risk, resilience and response capacity on a scale from low to high.
Our self-report survey found that an estimated 500,000 current Florida residents were exploited or trafficked at work, and an estimated 200,000 were trafficked for sex. Minors made up half of those trafficked for sex and a quarter of those exploited at work. Although many of these survivors were exploited outside of Florida, these people need services locally to help get their lives on track.
Of those reporting human trafficking, only 9% to 12% reported this crime to law enforcement, confirming our concerns that it remains largely hidden from view. This is why it’s critical that TIPSTR doesn’t solely rely on law enforcement data.
Our analysis of the available data revealed wide variation across Florida counties in both the level of risk and the robustness of response systems. Some regions show strong resilience due to coordinated task forces and survivor services, while others struggle with underreporting and limited resources.
Translating data into action
At the same time, there are encouraging signs. The TIPSTR data shows prosecutions are increasing, and coordination among law enforcement, service providers and community organizations has strengthened.
Going forward, we hope our analysis of the data collected by TIPSTR will help the reporting agencies find new ways to respond. And tracking trends can allow policymakers to measure the effectiveness of programs run by different groups.
In fact, this is already happening. One sheriff’s office shared with us that when it saw how many illicit massage businesses were in its county, it started investigating them. In another instance, a nonprofit told us it had used the report to show why it needs more funding to expand its programs.
Law enforcement can now use TIPSTR’s cross-agency data to connect cases. Service providers can coordinate care across counties, reducing duplication and ensuring continuity for survivors.
We hope that the report will also be used to develop broader awareness campaigns and better victim identification practices.
The importance of a long-term database
The system we’ve created will allow us to track the data for years to come. From a research perspective, this is critical, because it means our team can assess whether new policies and prevention strategies are making a measurable impact over time.
As criminologists, we believe that what Florida has built through TIPSTR can serve as a model for other states. Data alone cannot end human trafficking, but without it, we are fighting a hidden problem we cannot fully see.
Read more stories from The Conversation about Florida.
Shelly M. Wagers receives funding from National Institute of Justice and Mel Greene Foundation.
Joan A. Reid receives funding from National Institute of Justice and Mel Greene Foundation.
Then, a viral screenshot appeared to show Alix exposing Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart hitting up the TikToker.
Did he slide into her DMs? Did it work?
Alix Earle attends the 2025 GQ Men Of The Year party at Chateau Marmont on November 13, 2025. (Photo Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
It’s over for Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios … and on for Jaxson Dart?
On Saturday, December 6, news broke that Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios had split.
Almost immediately, a screenshot — seemingly related — spread on social media like wildfire.
As you can see below, the image appears to show a DM from Jaxson Dart to Alix Earle.
“Hey u single now?” the apparent message reads.
Atop the screenshot, Alix seemingly commented: “It hasn’t even been 12 hours.”
A viral screenshot appeared to show Alix Earle exposing Jaxson Dart sliding into her DMs. Is it real? (Image Credit: Twitter)
By all appearances, the screenshot shows Alix herself as having posted this to her Instagram Story.
Presumably, the goal was to “expose” Jaxson for being way too horny — and not waiting a respectful amount of time.
Sure, Alix just broke up with one sportsball player.
But that doesn’t mean that she wants another in her DMs so soon after leaving a very serious relationship. Right?
It turns out that Alix’s wasn’t upset by the DM after all. Why? Because it never happened.
Alix Earle attends ELLE’s 2024 Women in Hollywood celebration presented by Ralph Lauren, Harry Winston and TikTok at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on November 19, 2024. (Photo Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for ELLE)
‘That never happened’
The breakup news broke on Saturday. The screenshot also circulated on Saturday.
On Sunday afternoon, Alix Earle effectively exonerated Jaxson Dart by taking to her TikTok Story.
“What is this fake photoshopped DM u guys are posting,” she asked in the post, which consisted of a simple photo containing text.
“1. That never happened,” Alix wrote.
She added: “2. That wouldn’t be on my story.”
Taking to TikTok, Alix Earle debunked a phony screenshot. (Image Credit: TikTok)
That sounds very reasonable.
It would be in extremely poor taste for someone to DM someone after a serious breakup looking for a hookup.
(There are rare exceptions — some friends with compatible senses of humor, for example, or hookup buddies who would find post-split boning to be therapeutic)
One can only assume that whoever manufactured this screenshot was attempting to be funny. People sometimes edit real screenshots to resemble famous people (or fictional characters).
The alternative is that the originator was intentionally trying to misrepresent both Alix and Jaxson. And, gosh, we sure hope not!
In TikTok comments, Alix Earle explained why hunky boyfriend Braxton Berrios could not attend her ‘DWTS’ Season 34 finale. (Image Credit: TikTok)
Why did she and Braxton break up?
Reports have said that the breakup was the result of their busy schedules. Certainly, public evidence supports this.
Braxton couldn’t make every Dancing With The Stars show — even when she was a finalist on the season finale.
According to Alix Earle herself, this was because he was busy with his football career.
It’s always possible that there’s more to the story. People with busy careers that require travel and odd hours do, however, sometimes find that it’s best to break up.
Either way, it’s good to know that Jaxson Dart was not, in fact, sliding into Alix Earle’s DMs the day that the news broke. That would have been tasteless.
But long before he amassed a devoted fan base through his work on shows like LA Law and Mad Men, Hamlin was a college student at Berkley.
Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna attend the 2023 Palm Springs International Film Festival: World Premiere of “80 For Brady” at Palm Springs High School on January 06, 2023 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Getty Images)
Like so many college kids of the 1970s, the aspiring thespian dabbled in illicit substances.
And on at least one occasion, his experiments took him down a very dangerous path.
Hamlin opened up about the incident during a recent appearance on Rinna’s “Let’s Not Talk About the Husband” podcast.
Apparently, the show is rather inaccurately titled, because Lisa’s husband talked about himself extensively during a conversation that started with the mention of the controversial drug ketamine.
“I have never had ketamine, but … in jail, I was forced to smoke PCP,” Hamlin remarked.
“[An] upperclassman had given me 25 pills and about a 25th of an ounce of grass, and that was my payment for taking these pills,” the 74-year-old continued, adding:
Actors Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna arrive at the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 22, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
“It was exam season, and I was at Berkley. And my upperclassmen in the fraternity house I was living in came to me before I was going down to LA for Thanksgiving, which is around exam time.
“And he said, ‘Take these pills down to another house at USC. They need these for their exams. So I take them down, and they didn’t want the pills … so I had to take them back.”
“Do you think that was very smart?” Rinna asked, prompting Hamlin to admit, “Obviously not because I ended up in jail.”
Surprisingly, it wasn’t the pills that landed Hamlin in legal trouble but the “tiny quantity of marijuana” he had on his person.
Hamlin was sentenced to 18 days behind bars, but as a college student, he was permitted to serve his sentence on weekends.
Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna attend the 26th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 4, 2018 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
It was on his first weekend that Harry saw a group of inmates passing around a cigarette as though it were a joint. Eventually, one of the inmates insisted that he join in.
“He said, ‘Have some of this!’” Hamlin recalled, “So that’s how I was forced to have the PCP.”
“Somebody had brought in a little sack of rolling tobacco, and they had soaked it in PCP … so they were smoking it, and there was no odor. But they were high as kites,” he continued.
“I was so stoned because the guy forced me to take three or four hits of it, right?” Hamli said. “And I was completely messed up after I had that. So that’s my PCP story.”
And what a story it is!
Obviously, aspects of that particular tale are downright horrifying, but our main takeaway here is that Harry Hamlin is one of those guys who has an interesting story on just about any topic.
His own light, that is. Or perhaps is own dark, we should say.
On the December 7 episode of Sister Wives, the reality star embarked on a three-part apology tour… sitting down opposite ex-spouse Janelle in order to make amends for all his past behavior.
“I feel like we’ve needed an olive branch — the entire family,” the dad of 18 said on air, noting that he flew to North Carolina to meet with second wife because she received “the high honor” of “being the person I felt the safest with to start offering that olive branch.”
Kody went on to say he wanted “to apologize for just being so angry and so bitter over the family breakup,” and then explained in his chat with Janelle:
“Nobody deserved to have me be that angry.”
Never previously known for his self-awareness, or for taking responsibility ever for anything, Kody wasn’t done looking deep within himself.
Much to the surprise of Janelle and to viewers around the globe.
(TLC)
“I’ve been a bastard for about three years about this whole breakup, four years,” Kody actually said to Janelle, acknowledging that he was full of it when he claimed to have never loved his exes.
“I think the meanest thing that I did was I said I didn’t love you. That wasn’t true. That was a lie from the perspective of pain.”
Kody emphasized that there were “some mistakes I made in plural marriage specifically,” expounding as follows when it came to his early years:
“I wish I would have seen the need for you and I to protect our special place. If I would have understood that, I think it would have been a lot safer for you. I feel like I put you in harm’s way and then didn’t step up to protect you.”
Janelle Brown should be so very happy she’s done with Kody. (TLC)
On Sunday night, Kody and Janelle didn’t untangle their specific issues, but they each referenced how challenging it was to navigate the world of polygamy.
“There were things that happened, especially that first year or two that I kind of wish he would have stood up for me as much as he maybe, by default, sort of took the other position,” Janelle explained, referencing her and Meri’s “very different personalities” and tendency to clash.
“So, add that to the fact that there was a lot of jealousy and insecurity and stuff that we were working through and it just was not good.”
Kody Brown appears to be pondering life in this photo. (TLC)
This woman claims to have given birth to Miley as a tween and signed an adoption agreement with Billy Ray and Tish — one that they allegedly totally ignored.
Singer Miley Cyrus and parents Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus arrive for the 2019 MusiCares Person Of The Year gala at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on February 8, 2019. (Photo Credit: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Is Miley Cyrus the child of Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus?
Billy Ray Cyrus’ response to the lawsuit claiming that Miley Cyrus is secretly her biological daughter was to call it “false and absurd.”
He also filed a bunch of motions in court, as you can imagine. Because, yes, she filed a lawsuit.
To start at the beginning, a woman named Jayme Lee filed a lawsuit in May, according to The Daily Mail.
Within the filing, Lee alleges that she, and not Tish Cyrus, gave birth to Miley.
Significantly, Lee claims that she was 12 years old at the time.
Singer/actress Miley Cyrus and Tish Cyrus attends the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at West Hollywood Park on February 24, 2013. (Photo Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
Lee’s lawsuit claims that she entered into a “private adoption agreement” with Billy Ray and Tish.
She alleges that she experienced “severe emotional distress” when Billy Ray “misrepresented the circumstances” of the alleged adoption.
(That is, Billy Ray would tell you that Miley, who looks very much like her siblings and strongly resembles Tish, is his and Tish’s biological child)
According to Lee, the alleged adoption agreement granted her permission to name Miley — and to work as her nanny and piano teacher.
(For the record, Miley’s birth name is Destiny, which is a wonderful name for a horse. Miley was a nickname, but seems to better fit a human being)
Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus and Tish Cyrus attend the 2015 amfAR Inspiration Gala New York at Spring Studios on June 16, 2015. (Photo Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
The lawsuit contained a litany of complaints
Because Billy Ray Cyrus did not abide by this alleged agreement regarding Miley Cyrus, Jayne Lee is suing him and Tish for “breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and unlawful interference with parental rights.”
She claimed that Billy Ray and Tish suddenly ghosted her shortly after Miley’s birth.
Allegedly, they “threatened” her “with police action” after Miley was born. This claim emerged in her amended filing in June.
Within the filing, Lee demanded a supervised DNA test for maternity and paternity of Miley and of her parents.
Pending the results, she wanted to revisit the legality of the alleged adoption.
Miley Cyrus and Tish Cyrus attend SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall on February 14, 2025. (Photo Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
In October, a judge declined Lee’s request for a trial.
On November 20, Billy Ray filed a motion to dismiss. He accused Lee of filing this lawsuit solely to harass him and his family.
On December 1, he filed a response to Lee’s amended complaint from June. He shared that he had only recently become aware of this lawsuit.
On December 5, the court dismissed Lee’s lawsuit — with prejudice. That means that she cannot simply file it again.
Miley Cyrus, Tish Cyrus, and Billy Ray Cyrus attend MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Dolly Parton at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 8, 2019. (Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Is that the end of discussion?
Most people could look at photos and reasonably conclude that Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus are Miley Cyrus’ full biological parents. The family resemblance is pretty strong.
(We should acknowledge that sometimes, people who are not blood relatives strongly resemble each other — but we are not claiming that this is the case here)
Whatever prompted Lee to bring her lawsuit, it seems likely that something — maybe several somethings — terrible happened over the course of her life. Obviously.
That is purely speculation, founded primarily upon the absolute horror story of someone claiming to have given birth at age 12. Giving birth to any child as a tween, Miley or not, connotes a series of traumas and hardships.
This lawsuit was likely filled with a lot of distressing emotions for everyone involved. Perhaps the court’s dismissal will bring at least some of the parties some measure of peace.
We have tragic news to report from the world of social media today.
Alessandro Antonicelli — the fitness influencer who acquired hundreds of thousands of followers over the course of his brief career — has passed away.
He was just 26 years old.
Fitness influencer Alessandro Antonicelli has passed away at the age of 26. (YouTube)
Antonicelli’s loved ones announce his death on Instagram
News of Alessandro’s death comes courtesy of a statement his family posted on his social media pages.
“Today the world is a bit emptier: Ale flew away, free from pain, finding the peace he deserved,” the post reads.
“We know how much you’ve loved and supported him, but now we ask you to protect this painful time his family, girlfriend and friends are going through.”
While Alessandro started out as a fitness influencer, in recent years, his page focused more on his battle with cancer and his activism on behalf of medical research.
In August of 2023, Antonicelli revealed that he had been diagnosed with chondroblastic osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor.
The shocking discovery was made when he was a doctor with the hope of determining the cause of his chronic fatigue.
“I am sure that the sports mentality and that of studying that I have gained over the years will be of great help to face this battle,” he wrote at the time (via People).
“I don’t know what’s waiting for me, but I know I’m strong.”
Tragically, Alessandro’s life was cut short by his illness, but he made the most of his final months, inspiring thousands by sharing his courageous story.
Across social media today, family, friends, and a legion of adoring fans paid tribute.
Fitness influencer Alessandro Antonicelli has passed away at the age of 26. (YouTube)
“Just finished watching all of Alessandro Antonicelli’s (pettor_ale) stories. F–k, it’s mind-blowing how life can pick on some people so relentlessly, I’m in tears because it’s not fair, not at all,” one follower wrote on X.
One media outlet noted that Alessandro’s followers made his dying wish come true by donating thousands to cancer research.
“The last wish of ‘PettorAle’ Antonicelli: 100 thousand euros in a few hours for the Cancer Institute,” the Milan Republic tweeted.
Alessandro was not as well-known in the US as in his native Italy, but in the days since his death on December 6, his message has spread like never before.
Nothing can ease the pain of Alessandro’s loved ones at this incredibly difficult time, but hopefully, they can take some solace in knowing how much good he accomplished during his short time on earth.
Former Texas Rep. Colin Allred ended his Senate run on Monday as challenger Jasmine Crockett prepares to announce her likely bid for the seat that has long eluded Democrats.
Allred instead declared his intention to run for Congress in Rep. Julie Johnson’s seat. A resident of Dallas, he was making his second attempt to unseat a Texas Republican in the Senate after losing to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024.
Allred was facing the possibility of a crowded Democratic primary: He was already up against state Rep. James Talarico, a rising star within the Democratic Party. Allred lagged in fundraising behind Talarico, and Crockett – an outspoken member with a strong national profile – would also prove to be a formidable challenger.
Allred, in a statement, said he wanted to avoid a messy Senate primary and will instead run for Congress in the newly drawn 33rd Congressional District, which had its lines redrawn after the U.S. Supreme Court last week allowed Texas to use a new GOP-friendly map drawn this year. His switch comes on the final day candidates can file to run in Texas for the March primary.
A bruising primary is taking place on the Republican side: Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton or Rep. Wesley Hunt are dueling for the GOP nomination.
“In the past few days, I’ve come to believe that a bruising Senate Democratic primary and runoff would prevent the Democratic Party from going into this critical election unified against the danger posed to our communities and our Constitution by Donald Trump and one of his Republican bootlikkers Paxton, Cornyn or Hunt,” he said in a statement. “That’s why I’ve made the difficult decision to end my campaign for the U.S. Senate.”
Democrats need to net four seats to regain control of the Senate — a tough task that they believe was made easier by their sweeping success around the country on Election Day last month.
Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett declared a U.S. Senate run on Monday, jolting an already contentious Democratic primary as the party banks on flipping the reliably red state in its push to retake control of Congress’ upper chamber.
Crockett, a two-term representative from Dallas, will challenge state Rep. James Talarico, a rising star within the Democratic Party. Despite polling suggesting an uphill battle, Democrats feel optimistic about winning statewide in Texas for the first time in decades by harnessing the same backlash to President Donald Trump that fueled their successful off-cycle elections last month. In 2018, the party caught a glimmer of hope when Beto O’Rourke came within 2 points of defeating Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in a blue wave.
Former Rep. Colin Allred, the first Democrat to get into the race, dropped out on Monday ahead of Crockett’s announcement, citing a desire to avoid a messy primary and the likelihood of a runoff that would be triggered if no candidate receives a majority of the first round of votes in the March 3 primary. It was Allred’s second attempt at a Senate run: He lost to Cruz in 2024 by more than 8 percentage points.
“For too long, Texas has elected Senators who have defended politics as usual and protected the status quo, while Texans have paid the price,” Crockett said on her campaign website. “We’ve had Senators who have pushed the American Dream further and further out of reach.”
“I’m running for the United States Senate because I believe Texas deserves a Senator who will be an independent voice for all 30 million Texans – not a rubber stamp or party line vote for Donald Trump.”
Ahead of the rally, Crockett released a 45-second video with audio of Trump calling her “the new star” of the Democratic party and a “very low IQ person.”
In recent weeks, Crockett publicly debated whether to jump in, saying she would only do so if polling showed she could win. She has said she believes she can expand the electorate in Texas, a formidable task given the state’s entrenched Republican politics and rightward shift in 2024, including in former Democratic strongholds along the border. She’ll kick off with an event Monday afternoon in Dallas.
Crockett will be able to draw on a national profile and strong fundraising network. As a House member in a solidly blue district, she raised more than $6.5 million as of the end of September, largely online from small-dollar donors, and had $4.6 million in her campaign account — funds that can immediately be used to propel her Senate run.
Crockett is known for going head to head against GOP rivals, and has attracted criticism for some of her comments, such as calling wheelchair-bound Texas Gov. Greg Abbott “hot wheels.” She also referred to GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene as having a “bleach-blonde, bad-built, butch body” during a House Oversight Committee hearing.
Some Texas Democrats said they believe Crockett brings a shot of enthusiasm – and her assertiveness is what the Democratic electorate is clamoring for. “We need some out loud, bold progressives, and that’s what people like about her,” said Allison Campolo, chairwoman of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. “She doesn’t shy away from anything. She doesn’t run to the middle.”
Crockett has faced obstacles in the House, coming up short in a bid for a caucus leadership position and for Democrats’ top position on the Oversight Committee. Now her Senate bid is causing some musical chairs in the House, brought on by the Texas GOP’s new gerrymander. Her decision to run for Senate wards off one potentially tough member-on-member primary for her current seat, but Allred’s switch to vie for a recently redrawn House seat against Rep. Julie Johnson is forcing another messy primary in a safe blue district.
Republicans say Crockett’s combative reputation will disqualify her among moderate Texans. Sen. John Cornyn has been goading Crockett into the race, and his campaign believes she will be easily defeated in a general election. Cornyn told reporters Monday that he thinks Crockett wins the primary “but she’s the worst possible candidate they can have in Texas.”
But first Cornyn would have to survive a packed and bloody Republican primary. And his vulnerability among conservative primary voters who question his MAGA bonafides has Democrats frothing at the opportunity to flip the seat. He’s up against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a far-right firebrand who’s often considered the frontrunner since launching his campaign in April. Rep. Wesley Hunt jumped into the race in October, essentially guaranteeing the early March primary will go to a runoff.
Democrats are staking their hopes of flipping Texas on a continued GOP split — and the possibility of Paxton, whom they view as a weaker candidate, advancing to the general election.
Crockett told the Dallas Morning News last week that she had called Allred and Talarico to discuss polling she had commissioned showing she could win the election. Talarico’s campaign said she never actually shared the survey when they spoke. Talarico has achieved fame for his liberal view of Christianity and involvement in a walkout staged by Texas state lawmakers over Republicans gerrymandering a congressional map at Trump’s request.
“Our movement is rooted in unity over division — so we welcome Congresswoman Crockett into this race,” Talarico said in a statement.
The biggest question facing Crockett is whether she’ll be able to translate her popularity in Dallas statewide, said Joel Montfort, a Texas-based Democratic strategist.
“I appreciate her scrappiness and abilities to go toe to toe with her detractors. She is quick witted and quite the firebrand,” he said. “Her key challenge will be getting the other urban and suburban voters in other cities to appreciate what she brings to the party.”
