Cardi B just brought her biggest stage yet to Texas politics. The Grammy-winning rapper, currently on a sold-out tour, paused between performances to deliver a direct message to her 164 million Instagram followers: early voting is happening right now in Texas, and Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett needs their support. The endorsement, posted to Instagram on February 26, 2026, landed like a thunderclap in what is already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.
Crockett, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn, wasted no time responding. She reposted Cardi’s video on X with the rapper’s signature “Okurrr” and a message of her own: “Y’all heard my good sis!!! She’s on a SOLD OUT tour and still took a minute to tap in. We’ve got 2 days of Early Voting left. Let’s gooooo!!! #JasmineForUS #TexasTough.” The moment instantly went viral, energizing supporters and rattling Republicans who are already nervous about the direction of the Texas race.
Cardi B’s Endorsement of Jasmine Crockett: What She Said and Why It Matters
Speaking directly into the camera with her trademark urgency and passion, Cardi B — born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar — made her case for Crockett in clear, simple terms that her massive audience could connect with immediately. “Early voting is happening right now in Texas, and we need Jasmine Crockett to win. She is running for U.S. Senate, and if you want someone who is going to fight for your rights, you want someone who’s going to fight for your community, if you want someone that’s going to go up there and represent you and represent your issues, please vote for my sister Jasmine Crockett,” she said in the video.
She did not stop there. Cardi went on to add, “Because one thing about it, she’s going to fight her best, she’s going to fight forever. She has to, so your voice and your problems can be heard. Vote right now. This counts so much.” The message was personal, direct, and delivered with the kind of conviction that her followers have come to expect — not a scripted political ad, but a genuine appeal from one woman to millions of others.
The reach of that appeal cannot be overstated. With 164 million Instagram followers, Cardi B is one of the most-followed entertainers on the platform in the world. Her endorsement does not just generate headlines — it carries the potential to move real voters, particularly younger audiences and communities of color who are deeply influenced by cultural voices they trust.
Who Is Jasmine Crockett and Why Is the Texas Senate Race Such a Big Deal?
Rep. Jasmine Crockett has quickly become one of the most recognized Democratic voices in Congress. Known for her sharp wit, fearless delivery, and willingness to go toe-to-toe with anyone on the House floor, the Texas congresswoman has built a national profile that far exceeds her tenure in Washington. She represents a new generation of Democratic leadership — unapologetic, community-rooted, and unwilling to play small.
Her Senate campaign centers on the seat currently occupied by Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a fixture of Texas GOP politics. Crockett is not running unopposed on the Democratic side, however — state Rep. James Talarico is also vying for the nomination, meaning the primary itself is a battle before the general even begins. Both candidates are banking on a shifting Texas electorate that has been trending more competitive in recent election cycles.
What makes this race particularly significant is what it could mean for control of the U.S. Senate. According to Politico, Crockett and Talarico have Senate Republicans so rattled that party leaders are genuinely concerned about being forced to divert campaign resources from other critical battleground states — including North Carolina, Georgia, and Michigan — just to defend Texas. That is a level of anxiety the GOP did not anticipate having to feel about the Lone Star State.
Senate Republicans on Edge as Texas Flipping Becomes a Real Possibility
The anxiety within Republican circles is not just chatter — it is being voiced at the highest levels of the party. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who publicly endorsed Cornyn, acknowledged the potential threat with striking candor. “Honestly, if you look at the polling in a general election setting, I don’t think it’s outside the realm of possibility that the seat flips, depending on who the Democrats nominate,” he said. For a Republican leader to concede that kind of vulnerability in Texas is remarkable — and revealing.
Complicating the Republican picture even further is the crowded field on their own side. Rep. Wesley Hunt and Attorney General Ken Paxton are both challenging Cornyn from within the party, creating a fractured primary that could weaken whoever ultimately emerges as the GOP nominee. Internal division at a time when Democrats are energized and unified behind strong candidates is exactly the kind of scenario that turns traditionally safe seats into genuine contests.
The convergence of a competitive Democratic primary, a split Republican field, and celebrity-powered grassroots energy is creating a political environment in Texas that feels genuinely different from cycles past. For Democrats dreaming of flipping the Senate map, Texas has suddenly become a race worth watching very, very closely.
Ken Paxton Fires Back With a Nicki Minaj Joke — and Misses the Room
Not everyone took the Cardi B endorsement seriously — at least not publicly. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton chose to respond to the moment not with policy arguments but with a hip-hop culture reference, declaring himself “team Nicki Minaj” in a nod to the long-running feud between Minaj and Cardi B. He also used the moment to brand himself as President Donald Trump’s “number one fan,” apparently more interested in culture war points than in directly addressing Crockett’s campaign.
The response drew more eye rolls than applause, widely seen as a miscalculation that underscored just how out of touch the political establishment can be when it tries to engage with pop culture on its own terms. While Paxton was busy cracking jokes, Crockett’s campaign was busy banking early votes.
The contrast was striking. On one side, a rapper with 164 million followers making an earnest, passionate case for a candidate she believes in. On the other, a state attorney general reaching for a celebrity feud reference as a political rebuttal. It is the kind of moment that, in hindsight, tells you a great deal about which side of this race has the cultural momentum — and which side is struggling to find it.
Early Voting, Star Power, and the Road Ahead for Jasmine Crockett
With early voting already underway and just two days remaining on the clock at the time of Cardi B’s post, the timing of the endorsement was not accidental. Campaigns live and die by turnout in early voting windows, and a viral moment from one of the world’s most-followed celebrities at exactly the right time can move the needle in ways that traditional advertising simply cannot replicate.
Crockett’s campaign has been building toward this moment — positioning her as the bold, battle-tested choice for voters who want a fighter in Washington, not just a placeholder. Her hashtags, #JasmineForUS and #TexasTough, reflect a campaign identity that is grounded in both personal toughness and a genuine commitment to the communities she represents.
Whether or not Texas ultimately flips in the general election, what is already clear is that this race has changed the conversation about what is politically possible in a state that Republicans have long taken for granted. Cardi B asked millions of people to pay attention to Texas. Jasmine Crockett is giving them a reason to.