Texas politics just got a lot more interesting — and a lot more powerful. As the 2026 election season looms on the horizon, two of North Texas’ most dynamic and outspoken women, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Representative Katrina Pierson, are each eyeing higher legislative offices that could dramatically reshape the state’s political landscape. Both are fierce, fiery, and unapologetically bold — and both are setting their sights on making history.

Jasmine Crockett: From the Courtroom to the Capitol — and Now, Possibly the U.S. Senate

Jasmine Crockett, the 44-year-old attorney-turned-lawmaker, has become one of the most visible and vocal figures in Texas politics. With roots that stretch from Bowie County to Houston’s Third Ward, Crockett embodies the modern Southern Democrat — intelligent, unflinching, and unafraid to speak truth to power.

A former Texas State Representative and public defender, Crockett studied accounting at Rhodes College before earning her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Her journey has been fueled by advocacy — for equity, for justice, and for the everyday Texans often left out of the political conversation.

Now, the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Crockett leading the early polling for the 2026 Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. In a field that includes notable names like Beto O’Rourke, James Talarico, and former Congressman Colin Allred, Crockett stands out as the voters’ choice — with 31% of likely Democratic voters saying she’s their pick to take on the Republican establishment.

“Every time a poll comes out, somehow I end up at the top,” Crockett told supporters. “This is what the people of Texas are telling pollsters throughout the state — and I’m listening.”

If Crockett officially jumps into the race and clinches the nomination, she would make history as the first African American to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate — and only the second woman ever to do so, following Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Her potential opponent? A crowded and contentious Republican field that could include Attorney General Ken Paxton, 24-year incumbent Senator John Cornyn, and newly declared Congressman Wesley Hunt, a West Point and Cornell graduate who represents Houston’s westside oil corridor. Hunt’s candidacy underscores what’s shaping up to be one of the most watched — and most diverse — Senate races in Texas history.

Katrina Pierson: A Conservative Firebrand with Congressional Ambitions

While Crockett’s potential Senate run electrifies the left, Katrina Pierson, a 49-year-old Rockwall County legislator and communications powerhouse, is igniting energy on the right. Known for her unflinching views and high-octane political style, Pierson is weighing a run for Texas’ 32nd Congressional District — the same seat vacated by Colin Allred when he pursued the Senate in 2024.

“There’s been a lot of pressure for me to run for Congress,” Pierson said recently. “I’m blessed to have so many people across the state pushing me to do this.”

A graduate of Kilgore College and the University of Dallas, Pierson first made headlines as a grassroots organizer before rising through the ranks of Texas’ conservative political network. She’s proven herself as a skilled campaigner — and a formidable debater — securing victory in her last race with a decisive 56.4% of the vote.

Her supporters see her as the future face of a modern, media-savvy GOP — one that connects with suburban and rural Texans alike while still commanding national attention. A Pierson run could position her as a central voice in shaping the party’s next generation of leadership.

Texas Politics: Where the Future Is Female

It’s not often that two women — both African American, both fearless, and both representing starkly different political philosophies — simultaneously command this level of attention in Texas. Yet Crockett and Pierson’s possible 2026 campaigns reflect a broader truth: the state’s political energy is diversifying, modernizing, and amplifying voices that have long been underrepresented in the halls of power.

As Texas moves closer to the December 8 filing deadline and early voting begins February 17, 2026, the race for higher office is already heating up. But beyond the poll numbers and press headlines, what’s emerging is something even more powerful — a new era of leadership defined by bold women, big ideas, and boundary-breaking ambition.