In a startling revelation this week, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) shed light on the Democrats’ search for a 2028 presidential candidate, and it’s not who you might expect. Speaking candidly during a SiriusXM “Urban View” town hall, Crockett described how party insiders and major donors are coalescing around what she bluntly called the “safest White boy,” sidelining women and people of color in the process.
‘We’ve lost every time we voted for a woman,’ Crockett says
“It is this fear that the people within the party, within the primary system, will have about voting for a woman because every time we voted for a woman, we’ve lost, so far,” Crockett explained in a clip posted to Instagram.
“And I think that that’s a natural fear because we just want to win.”
Her comments, shared by SiriusXM host Clay Cane, hint at a party grappling with tough questions about electability and identity, and revealing the raw calculations behind the scenes. The full discussion is set to air on May 15.
A clear candidate emerges, but not who Democrats might hope for
Crockett didn’t stop there. “So there’s a lot of people that are like, ‘You know what? Let’s go find the safest White boy we can find,’” she said, striking a note of resigned frankness.
Pressing further, Crockett named “one specific candidate” she says is attracting the bulk of donor suppor, though she refused to identify him outright. “I can tell you that there is one specific candidate,” she said. “I had a donor on the phone with me telling me that all the donors are lining up behind that candidate. So I can tell, and I tell you, it’s not a Black person, nor a woman, OK?”
She referred to these key players simply as “they,” suggesting a group aligned with former President Joe Biden’s backers.
The 2028 Democratic field: a crowded but uncertain picture
The Democratic landscape for 2028 is wide open, from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California to Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and progressive stars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Even former Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her 2024 defeat, remains a potential contender. Yet Crockett’s remarks suggest none of these voices currently commands the unified backing of the donor class.
Harris made a recent political comeback by headlining a high-profile Democratic National Committee fundraising dinner, signaling her continued ambition on the national stage.
Crockett’s rising profile amid Democratic tensions
Meanwhile, Rep. Crockett herself is carving out a rising role within the party. Reports from Semafor and Politico indicate she’s eyeing the top Democratic spot on the House Oversight Committee, positioning herself as a fierce opponent of Donald Trump and a voice for a more aggressive Democratic strategy.
Politico quoted Crockett telling colleagues she is “made for the moment,” underscoring her belief that the party needs bold leadership in this fraught political climate.
As Democrats prepare for 2028, Crockett’s blunt words expose the uneasy balancing act at play: winning back the White House without sacrificing the diversity and values that have energized the party’s base. The question remains, can they find a candidate who satisfies both? Or will the search for the “safest” choice lead them down a familiar, risky path?
