WASHINGTON, D.C. — Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett delivered a sharp rebuke during a House Oversight Committee hearing last week, challenging Republican claims of bias in the U.S. Census Bureau’s practices. Chair James Comer and Rep. Nancy Mace had alleged that the Census unfairly benefits Democrats and enables “illegal aliens” to influence federal allocations — a charge Crockett dismantled with data and historical context.
The Allegations
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The hearing focused on the Census Bureau’s preparation for the 2030 count, with GOP members asserting that the bureau has manipulated its data collection to favor Democrats. These claims included critiques of longstanding policies like counting undocumented immigrants in population tallies.
Crockett’s Response
Rep. Crockett countered the GOP’s narrative, exposing the racial and political implications of census manipulation. She highlighted Texas’ population growth of 4 million people from 2010 to 2020 — primarily driven by communities of color — and pointed out that of these, only 180,000 were white (Anglos).
Despite this growth, Texas gained two additional congressional seats, but, as Crockett emphasized, those seats were drawn to favor white, Republican representation.
“They took those Black and brown and Asian bodies, and guess what? … That amounted to two new white seats. Republican seats.”
Crockett also addressed “prison gerrymandering,” a practice where prison populations (disproportionately Black and Latino) are counted in rural, predominantly white districts, further skewing political representation.
Context of Census Manipulation
Crockett’s remarks also spotlighted the Trump administration’s 2020 Census interference, which led to significant undercounts of Black and Latino communities. This underrepresentation has since been exploited to redraw voting districts in favor of Republicans, especially in states like Texas.
Democratic Leadership in Action
Rep. Crockett’s fiery critique underscores a growing demand within the Democratic Party for leaders willing to confront MAGA-aligned extremism. Her data-driven takedown not only challenged GOP talking points but also illuminated how census practices are being weaponized against communities of color.
As the fight over the 2030 Census unfolds, Crockett’s advocacy offers a blueprint for addressing institutional inequities and countering partisan narratives.
