Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville argued Thursday that Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett is not a viable candidate, suggesting that some of her controversial statements will come back to bite her in elections.

“Politics War Room” podcast co-host Carville has been outspoken for years about how the Democratic Party’s tone on various issues has lost them elections. Previously, he criticized Crockett by arguing she talks more about herself than she does about voters, something he considers to be breaking a cardinal rule in politics.

On an episode of their podcast published Thursday, co-host Al Hunt read a question from a listener asking why Carville thinks Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico is a better candidate than Crockett for the Texas Senate race.

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“Crockett has said that Hispanics who voted for Trump have a slave mentality. That’s not very smart. That will bite you in the a– in a general election,” Carville said. 

Crockett compared Hispanic Trump supporters concerned about illegal immigration to people who have a “slave mentality” in a 2024 interview with Vanity Fair. In December, Crockett attempted to walk these comments back during an interview on CNN.

He went on to say, in the interests of “anybody that has any sense of humanity,” that “she made fun of Greg Abbott — who is a comical figure — but not because he’s a comical figure and an intellectual dope, but because he was actually in a wheelchair. That’s not right.”

“That’s just trying to do some online fundraising with some Seattle fanatic progressives,” he argued of her controversial comment.

Crockett had referred to wheelchair-bound Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels,” which earned her bipartisan backlash. She said afterward she was merely “thinking about the planes, trains and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable.”

Carville went on to argue that not only is Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico more viable, he would probably vote for the same progressive agenda.

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“I’m for Jim Talarico for, you know, I think Jim’s a great guy and all of that, but, basically, I would be for anybody that I thought had the best chance of winning,” Carville said. “And it’s clear to me that Jim would have a much, much better chance of winning the general election than Jasmine Crockett. 

“I don’t think Jasmine’s a bad person. And, by the way, I don’t think there’s much difference in how they would vote. I don’t think you get much different product, but if you don’t win, you hadn’t done s—.

“So, if you want to win the election, if that’s important to you, as it is to me, then you got to be for Jim Talarico,” Carville said. “It’s that simple.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Rep. Crockett for comment.

A Texas police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty while trying to apprehend a wanted fugitive, according to authorities. 

Copperas Cove Police Officer Elijah Garretson, a 27-year-old New Hampshire native, was fatally wounded while attempting to arrest a fugitive who was wanted for engaging in organized criminal activity and failing to appear in court on Jan. 10, Texas State Sen. Pete Flores, whose district includes Copperas Cove, said in a Facebook post. 

According to Flores, Garretson and two other officers got into a scuffle with the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Jamison Cavazos, as they tried to apprehend him. 

Officials said Cavazos then shot Garretson during the attempted arrest and fled the scene, where he later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as officers closed in on his second location following a lengthy negotiation attempt. Authorities recovered two pistols in his possession, Flores said.

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Garretson was subsequently transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. 

“This officer placed his life in harm’s way trying to protect public safety and paid the ultimate price,” Flores, chairman of the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, said. “This loss is a tragic reminder of the courageous sacrifice that our law enforcement officers face every day.”

The Texas Rangers are conducting an investigation into Garretson’s death.

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Garretson grew up in New Hampshire and later joined the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Fort Hood and rose to the rank of Sergeant before leaving in June 2024, FOX 7 reported.

Following his departure from the Army, Garretson entered the police academy and graduated as the Academic Honor Graduate of his class in June 2025. He was also celebrated for helping to save a fellow cadet’s life when they experienced cardiac arrest, according to FOX 7.

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He reportedly leaves behind a wife and 5-year-old daughter. 

The Copperas Cove Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

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“During this difficult time, our thoughts are with his loved ones, colleagues at the Copperas Cove Police Department, and all those affected by this tragedy,” the New Hampshire State Police said in a Facebook post. “He will never be forgotten.”

The individual who pleaded guilty to Tesla-related arson has been slapped with a five-year prison sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Ian William Moses, who pleaded guilty last year, was sentenced on Tuesday “by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 60 months of imprisonment, the mandatory minimum, followed by 36 months of supervised release,” the release notes.

“According to court documents, surveillance cameras showed Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. While in the Tesla dealership parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building and three Tesla vehicles,” the press release explains. 

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“At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark colored bicycle shortly thereafter,” the release notes.

There was a spate of anti-Tesla vandalism last year, stemming from backlash to billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk’s work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his high-profile alliance with President Donald Trump.

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“Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics. Mr. Moses’ actions endangered the public and first responders and could have easily turned deadly,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in a statement.

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“This five-year sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability,” Courchaine noted.