James Talarico won the Democratic nomination for a US Senate seat in Texas on Tuesday, capping a remarkable rise from state lawmaker and seminary student to the party’s standard-bearer in one of the key races of the 2026 midterm cycle.
With his blend of faith-based populism, bipartisan appeal and generational energy, Talarico defeated Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a firebrand beloved by the party’s base but who struggled to dispel concerns that she could defeat a Republican in a state that has not elected a Democrat statewide in more than 30 years.
A jubilant Talarico told supporters in Austin before the race was called: “We are not just trying to win an election. We are trying to fundamentally change our politics. And it’s working.”
Crockett has 3 yrs in the Texas House and 3 years in the US House.
Talarico’s 8 yrs have been solely in the Texas House.
I think most people weight national legislative experience significantly higher than state legislative experience.
Plus Crockett has a demonstrated track record of getting national news coverage opposing Trump.
I’m really not looking to get into a debate though. I’m not a Texan and have only casually followed this race. They seem like remarkably comparable candidates overall. I just wanted to say that from the outsider’s perspective, Talarico seems to have a better chance in the generals.