AUSTIN, Texas — After weeks of campaigning and encouraging voters to the return to the polls, Jasmine Crockett is one step closer to representing Texas’ House District 30. Just after 10 p.m., the Associated Press called the runoff election in favor of Crockett — who currently serves as representative for House District 100.

“District 30, thank you,” Crockett said. “You took a chance.”

During her victory speech, she thanked her mother as well as Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for their support during what she described as the “hardest race” she’s had to run. She even mentioned that her opponent, Jane Hope Hamilton called to concede. With more than 60% of the vote, Crockett received 17, 425 votes while Hamilton had 11, 351 votes. 

“I would not be here without her,” Crockett said. “My mom has been my rock and while my mom is not really one for politics at all, she raised me to be fearless and to stand up and fight for those that a lot of times did not have a fighter on their behalf. She also set the bar really high.”

Since endorsing Crockett, Johnson has been by the freshman politician’s side ensuring her constituents that Crockett was the best woman to fill her shoes.

“The congresswoman was one of two first African-American women to be sworn into the Texas House and I was only the 22nd African-American woman ever sworn-in,” Crockett said. “She created that pathway for me. She ended up taking it a step further by calling me and saying that it was time for her to retire at the tender age of 86 — after 50 years of service to the state of Texas.”

City and state leaders took to social media to congratulate Crockett. State Rep. Carl Sherman, of House District 109, applauded her efforts on the historic win. 

“Your perseverance have paid off,” Sherman tweeted. “What a blessing. May God anoint you with increasing wisdom, grace and boldness to fulfill your campaign promises and serve the people of District 30 well.”

Crockett also addressed the sacrifices Johnson made by staying in Congress as long as she did a as well as why she didn’t pass the baton sooner.

“There were so many people who said, ‘why, did she wait so long?’ and I had to explain that it was out of her love for the district that she was protecting the district,” Crockett said. “There are protections that come with you staying in that seat when we’re going through redistricting. And her last post in the senate was the chair of redistricting. If anyone knew how to protect the district and protect the people, it was the congresswoman.”

But, now, the baton will get passed on. And for Crockett, it’s a chance to continue the work Johnson has put in place over the years. 

“This has been a very difficult race,” she said. “It’s the hardest race I’ve had to run. It’s the biggest race I’ve had to run. But, I promise y’all while y’all were sleeping she was up at 2 or 3 in the morning talking to me on the phone and encouraging me.”

“One thing she said over and over and over, the constant reframe was ‘God’s got us.’ That’s what she said and at the end of the day, I can tell y’all that we are only here because I truly feel that God ordered my steps.”

During her victory speech, she expressed that her office would continue to be one that welcomed those wanting their voices heard.  

“Right now, all I can think about is all that I’ve got to do because I’ve heard your cries as it relates to the gas prices, I’ve heard your cries as it relates to the fact that you really want to go to work but that’s not a living wage and so you’re saying 'do I go to work and I don’t make the living wage while I’ve got these kids that I need to go put into childcare' — I hear you. I want you to know that.”

Crockett also took the chance to speak on the tragedy that took place in Uvalde that left 19 children and two adults dead. She offered prayers to the families of the victims in the small town roughly 90 miles outside of San Antonio.

“The state — we failed y’all,” she said. “That is the reality. But, we may be able to put in new measures, additional measures on the federal level to make sure that we can start protecting the people of Texas. I am tired of the excuses. It’s time to get to work.”

Throughout her campaign, Crockett mentioned multiple endorsements on the state and local level. But, it would be the vote of the people that mattered most to her.

“We talked a lot about endorsements,” she said. “At the end of the day, I told y’all the most important endorsement was the endorsement of the people. And I want to tell you today the endorsement that I am most proud of is the endorsement that you, the people, in district 30 gave me.

In November, Crockett will face Republican candidate James Rodgers to see who will succeed Johnson.