Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett begins transition to replace Eddie Bernice Johnson in Congress

Days after state Rep. Jasmine Crockett won the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson in Congress, she was having bad dreams.

“I’m having these nightmares and I wake up and I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. Did I win?’” Crockett joked during an interview with. “I wake up and I Google myself.”

Crockett said she’ll go to Congress to work on four key issues:

• Developing affordable and quality housing in the 30th Congressional District.
• Creating partnerships with nonprofits that are more nimble than the government in problem solving.
• Developing a plan for distributing federal dollars related to the government’s massive infrastructure plan.
• Finding ways to boost small businesses.

The May 24 massacre of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde has created another priority for Crockett and others.

“I need to pull together something specifically as it relates to guns, especially coming from the state of Texas,” she said. “We need to do something.”

Since winning the runoff, Crockett has talked with Johnson, whose endorsement propelled her to front-runner status. She has also chatted with other Democrats in the House, including Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Progressive Caucus chairwoman Pramila Jayapal of Washington state.

Crockett said she’ll stay grounded when she goes to Congress.

“I’m not a politician. I hate politics, but I love people and I am committed to truly doing the work to serve the people and hopefully inspiring the next generation,” she said. “I’m going to be here as long as the people want me to serve them and they feel like I’m effective.”