DALLAS — Jasmine Crockett will officially carry the torch handed down by retiring Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson now that she’s won the U.S. House District 30 race. At the start of her campaign, she told her constituents that she wanted to continue the work her predecessor did for the past 50 years.

“I’m sure most of y’all can’t really recall too many times where someone has served and said, ‘I’m done serving, I’ve done my part',” Crockett said. “But I’m also going to pass the torch. Everything that she has done has been revolutionary.”

Johnson, who announced her retirement last year, backed Crockett to replace her.

“What most of y’all don’t understand is that I wouldn’t even be in the Texas House if it weren’t for an Eddie Bernice Johnson… we would not have a chance to sit at the table and fight for y’all if it wasn’t for an Eddie Bernice Johnson,” Crockett said. “Most of you may not understand that she was one of the two first Black women to ever be sworn in the Texas House.”

In an interview with Spectrum News 1 Texas, Johnson insisted that a woman follow in her footsteps.

“I would like to promote women where I can, because there were women who helped me come along,” she told Capital Tonight. “Women still are in smaller numbers in leadership roles and elected office in every level across the country and yet every issue is a woman’s issue.”

Back in March, Crockett faced Jane Hope Hamilton in a runoff after failing to get 50% of the vote in the primary race of nine candidates. She claimed victory over Hamilton by securing over 60% of the vote. Crockett’s Republican opponent, James Rodgers, ran on a platform of fighting for “traditional conservative values of community-led government” combined with free market economics and a vow to “fiercely” defend the Constitution. Just after midnight, Rodgers took to Twitter to congratulate Crockett on a succesful campaign. 

"Congrats to Jasmine Crockett on her victory," Rodgers tweeted. "Whatever the final numbers, she has earned an emphatic endoresment from the voters of D30. I genuiunely pray that she has the Midas touch and her/ every legislative endeavor would enrich our community and deliver us prosperity."

Crockett, who invited residents to come to her watch party at Gilley’s in Downtown Dallas took to the stage after the announcement of her win against Rodgers. A lawyer for the past 16 years, Crockett told the crowd that running for Congress was a huge decision admitting that she loved practicing law and trying cases in court.

“There was a bigger calling on my life,” she said, smiling. “My pastor says it all of the time… you never sought this position, this position sought you. And I’m here to tell you that’s the absolute truth.”

Crockett recalled going to the Texas House thinking she would just be able to tell politicians what she thought needed changing and in return, they would listen to her concerns. However, she realized as a political newcomer, the road would come with challenges.

“So, I was the one who was green,” she said, laughing. “I think we all discovered that, but in that greenness, I had this fight. I had this desire. She (Johnson) can tell you that. I was mad all of the time, I was pushing back and people were trying to tell me that’s just the way it is and I was like, ‘this can’t be the way it is,’ because my constituency deserves better, they deserve a fighter, they deserve a voice and I’m going to be that even if we lose.”

Crockett ran on a platform advocating for voting rights, reproductive rights and equality for all Texans.

“You know we’re really going through some hard times right now,” she said. “I can’t imagine a world that offers less opportunities for those that are coming behind me than the world offered me when I was growing up. And so, me getting involved in politics and practicing law, a lot of that came down to the doors that were opened to me and feeling like I owed something to those that opened doors that I never even knew that I wanted open.”

Acknowledging the power of Rep. Johnson standing in support of Crockett throughout the primary election and midterms, the newly elected congresswoman said she understood the responsibility bestowed upon her by voters.

"While I didn’t have a traditional path to this position, I understand the legacy that exists,” she said. “I will spend every day in office doing my best to honor her legacy, to live up to what it is that she told y’all I was going to do.”