Texas state Rep. James Talarico scored a decisive victory Tuesday night over Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, overturning weeks of polling that had shown the Dallas congresswoman with a sizable lead in the race to challenge Republican Sen. John Cornyn in 2026.
Pre-primary surveys had consistently placed Crockett ahead. A University of Texas at Tyler poll conducted Feb. 13–22 found Crockett leading 55 percent to 37 percent among likely voters, outside the survey’s 3.2-point margin of error. A separate University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll conducted earlier in February also showed Crockett with a double-digit advantage, 56 percent to 44 percent.
Despite that polling edge — and a string of high-profile endorsements — Crockett was unable to convert early momentum into a win. National Democratic figures, including former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris, got involved in the primary. Harris recorded robocalls urging voters to “send a fighter like Jasmine Crockett” to the Senate, while Obama previously referred to Talarico as “a really talented young man” during an October podcast interview — remarks later highlighted by Talarico’s campaign.
Crockett also received backing from entertainers. Rapper Cardi B posted a video encouraging Texas Democrats to support Crockett, while singer Kelly Rowland appeared alongside her in a voter outreach message urging participation in the primary.
Former congressman Colin Allred, who exited the Senate race in December before launching a campaign for Texas’s 33rd Congressional District, endorsed Crockett and criticized Talarico over remarks he described as racially insensitive. On election night, Allred joined Crockett in Dallas to address concerns about “voting access” following the county’s shift to precinct-based voting. Crockett urged supporters to remain in line and continue participating despite reported confusion at polling locations.
During the campaign, Crockett expressed confidence about her ability to compete statewide. In a February interview on CNN’s The Lead, she argued that “Independents and Republicans prefer me” over Talarico and said polling did not suggest she would struggle in a general election.
Talarico, however, built his campaign around a message that the nation’s central divide is “not left vs. right” but “top vs. bottom.” On his campaign website, he emphasizes anti-corruption proposals, pledging to ban super PACs and corporate PACs, prohibit partisan gerrymandering, and increase transparency across government. He highlights that he has never accepted corporate PAC money and says his first priority in the Senate would be an anti-corruption legislative package.
A former public school teacher in San Antonio, Talarico has also made education policy central to his platform; particularly his opposition to private school voucher programs championed by Gov. Greg Abbott. He argues vouchers divert taxpayer funds from neighborhood public schools and has pointed to past legislative battles with wealthy conservative donors over the issue.
On social and cultural issues, Talarico describes himself as a Presbyterian seminarian studying to become a pastor. He says his faith informs his opposition to Christian nationalism and supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law, while defending the separation of church and state.
With the Democratic primary decided, Talarico advances to the November 2026 general election. On the Republican side, no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote, triggering a May runoff between incumbent Sen. Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to determine the GOP nominee.
The Texas Senate race is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterm cycle, with both parties viewing the seat as pivotal in the broader battle for control of the chamber.
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