Texas Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett is under fire and facing a formal censure resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives after mocking Governor Greg Abbott’s disability in a speech, referring to the paralyzed governor as “Governor Hot Wheels.”
The comment, delivered at a Human Rights Campaign event in Los Angeles, immediately drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, with Republicans blasting the insult as vile, disrespectful, and ableist.
The Remark That Sparked Outrage
Crockett’s full comment was:
“Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. Come on now. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot a mess, honey.”**
Governor Abbott has used a wheelchair since a 1984 accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. While Crockett’s office later claimed the jab was aimed at his policies, the comment clearly targeted his disability in a public setting—and the backlash was swift.
Republicans Respond with Censure Effort
Texas Rep. Randy Weber announced he will introduce a censure resolution, calling Crockett’s words a disgrace to the office she holds.
“This kind of rhetoric has no place in Congress. It’s reprehensible, it’s cruel, and it disrespects not only Governor Abbott but every American living with a disability,” Weber said.
Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton echoed the sentiment, with Cornyn calling her behavior “shameful and beneath the dignity of her position.”
Crockett Tries to Walk It Back
In the face of mounting criticism, Crockett attempted to deflect by claiming her insult was a reference to Abbott’s migrant transportation policies, not his disability. She argued that her frustration was over Abbott’s practice of sending illegal immigrants to cities led by Black mayors.
But critics weren’t buying it.
“You don’t accidentally call a wheelchair-bound man ‘Hot Wheels’ if you’re just talking about policy,” one GOP staffer said. “That was a targeted personal insult, and she knew it.”
Why Censure Matters
A censure is a formal statement of disapproval by Congress—not removal from office, but a serious public rebuke that can damage a lawmaker’s credibility and standing. If passed, it would mark yet another high-profile moment of accountability in an era where political discourse has veered further and further into the gutter.
Bottom Line
Jasmine Crockett’s insult wasn’t just tasteless—it crossed a line that even many of her own colleagues are unwilling to defend. As the resolution moves forward, the House will now be forced to decide whether mocking a person’s disability for political gain is acceptable behavior in the halls of Congress.
So far, the answer from both sides is a resounding “no.”