A Texas Democrat burst into tears on CNN Friday after revealing who she actually voted for to the camera.
The woman said she voted against Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the state’s Senate primary, even though she claimed she loved the socialist congresswoman.
“We need a fighter. And I was so ready to vote for Jasmine Crockett, because I love her, but I voted for Talarico because we need somebody who can win,” the woman said. “That was one of the most difficult votes I’ve ever voted in my entire life.”
Bernhardt cast her ballot for Texas state Rep. James Talarico, who is challenging Crockett in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn.
Take a look –
Leftist woman BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS after betraying Jasmine Crockett and voting for her opponent..
LOL pic.twitter.com/stKmvQVuGA
— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) February 24, 2026
Another voter, Richard Traylor, told CNN he was still undecided and might “flip a coin” between the two candidates.
“I have vacillated back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth. I like her better than all of them,” Traylor said. “But I like winning better.”
CNN’s Saenz said Monday she heard similar concerns from multiple voters on the ground.
“You heard from voters who do have concerns about whether she could win, especially in a state like Texas,” Saenz said. “Jasmine Crockett’s campaign is really highlighting a lot of the debates within the Democratic Party when it comes to electability, when it comes to the type of voters that Democrats need to be reaching out to.”
The doubts extend beyond the voting booth. An anonymous House Democrat told Axios in December: “She might win a primary, but she ain’t winning a general in Texas.”
Democrats have not won a Texas Senate race since 1988. A University of Houston poll released this month showed Crockett leading Talarico 47% to 39% among likely Democratic primary voters. The Real Clear Politics average of polls from January shows a statistical tie, however, with both candidates at 41%.
Talarico received a major fundraising jolt in recent weeks after CBS pulled his interview with “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, citing legal guidance tied to potential FCC concerns. His campaign said it raised $2.5 million in the 24 hours following the viral fallout. Total spending behind Talarico’s campaign and allied groups has topped $15.3 million, compared to $2.8 million backing Crockett.
Crockett has argued her path to victory runs through re-energizing minority voters and young voters rather than chasing the moderates her socialist policies turn away.
“For the last 30 years, we’ve tried it the traditional way, and it’s not worked,” Crockett told CNN. “And the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over.”
Texas voters head to the polls March 3.