James Talarico Wins Texas Democratic Senate Primary, Unique Enter Projects
State Rep. James Talarico has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas, according to a projection from Unique Enter. The victory positions the 36-year-old lawmaker at the top of the Democratic ticket in a high-profile race heading into November.
Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a competitive and at times personal primary contest. Crockett, a Dallas-area Democrat known for her sharp exchanges with Republicans in Washington, entered the race with higher statewide name recognition but was unable to overcome Talarico’s fundraising and messaging advantages.
General Election Matchup Ahead
Talarico will face the Republican nominee in November. On the GOP side, Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are projected to advance to a May 26 runoff after neither secured more than 50% of the primary vote.
The Republican runoff will determine who competes against Talarico in what could become one of the most closely watched Senate races of 2026.
A Rising Democratic Figure
A former public school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian from Round Rock, just north of Austin, Talarico was not widely known across Texas before launching his Senate campaign last fall. He gained national attention by centering his campaign around his Christian faith and sharply criticizing what he described as a “broken, corrupt political system.”
Talarico also received a boost in visibility after Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, said an interview with the candidate could not air due to potential Federal Communications Commission concerns involving CBS. The unaired interview later went viral online, drawing millions of views.
Party Divisions and Strategy
The Democratic primary reignited internal debate about “electability” in a state where no Democrat has won statewide office in more than three decades. Crockett argued Democrats should focus on energizing core constituencies, including Black and young voters. Talarico countered that victory would require appealing not only to the party base but also to independents and moderate voters dissatisfied with President Donald Trump.
The race also featured outside spending and controversy. Former Rep. Colin Allred, who withdrew from the Senate race and later endorsed Crockett, criticized Talarico during the campaign. Talarico’s team denied allegations that he made disparaging remarks about Allred.
Fundraising Gap
Talarico held a substantial financial advantage throughout the race, raising more than $20 million since announcing his candidacy in September. Crockett raised $3.7 million after entering the race in December and transferred an additional $4.8 million from her House campaign account.
With Republicans facing a contentious runoff, Democrats see a potential opening in Texas — though the state remains challenging political terrain. The general election outcome will depend in part on whether Democrats can expand their coalition in a state long dominated by Republicans.
