‘Open borders Trump-hating radical’: GOP unleashes early blitz on Texas Democrat Talarico

Republicans waste no time in labeling Democratic Senate nominee in Texas James Talarico as a "far-left radical" in a top tier midterm race that may decide the majority in the chamber. Senate ‘Open borders Trump-hating radical’: GOP unleashes early blitz on Texas Democrat Talarico Former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian seeks to become first Democrat to win Texas Senate seat in nearly 4 decades By Paul Steinhauser , Alex Miller Fox News Published March 4, 2026 12:35pm EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Rising Democratic star James Talarico tops progressive firebrand Jasmine Crockett in Senate primary in Texas State Rep. James Talarico of Texas, in a not-quite victory speech, says ‘our campaign is shocking the nation.’ Hours later, the AP reported Talarico topped Rep. Jasmine Crockett to secure the nomination. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! AUSTIN, TEXAS — Republicans didn't wait for the call in the Democratic Senate primary in Texas to target James Talarico, the Democrats' nominee in the high-stakes midterm election battle. Hours before the Associated Press morning reported early on Wednesday that Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker with a surging national profile, defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a nationally known politician and progressive firebrand, Republicans lost no time in framing Talarico as a "far-left radical."Talarico, a 36-year-old former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, is trying to become the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a Senate election in right-leaning Texas, as he'll face off against the winner of a bruising Republican primary runoff on May 26 between longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Democratic Senate candidate state Rep. James Talarico speaks to supporters on primary night, in Austin, Texas, on March 3, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News) This year's Senate showdown in Texas is one of a handful across the country that could determine if Republicans hold their majority in the chamber in the midterm elections. The GOP currently controls the chamber 53-47. "James Talarico is an open borders, Trump-hating radical who can never be allowed to set foot in the U.S. Senate," National Republican Senatorial Committee Communications Director Joanna Rodriguez charged in a statement Tuesday evening.COMBUSTIBLE REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY IN TEXAS HEADED INTO OVERTIME Paxton, in a primary night speech in Dallas, claimed that Talarico is a "far-left radical who wants to abolish ICE. Says God is non-binary — I'm not even sure I know what that means — and thinks Christians are commanded to put boys in girls' sports. He will do nothing more than be a puppet for Chuck Schumer and the national Democrats." Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican Senate candidate, speaks to supporters at a campaign event on primary eve, in Waco, Texas on March 2, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)And Cornyn, in a Fox News Digital interview on Sunday, argued that both Talarico and Crockett "should be running for the Senate in California, not in Texas. They're way out of the mainstream in Texas." ROUND TWO OF CORNYN VS. PAXTON GETS UNDER WAY A veteran Republican operative who works in Senate races described Talarico as "Beto 2.0," as he referred to former Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke, the one-time rising star who came up short as the 2018 Democratic Senate nominee in trying to knock off conservative firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz, and who later ran unsuccessfully for the White House and for Texas governor. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks during a campaign stop in The Woodlands, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Annie Mulligan/AP Photo)"Republicans recognize that Talarico's a formidable candidate but also know that Texas is still a pretty conservative state, and they're going to try and brand him a far-left radical so that center-right voters and independent voters in the state don't choose him over the Republican nominee," longtime Texas-based GOP consultant Brendan Steinhauser told Fox News Digital."Republicans are going to find every speech on the Texas House floor that Talarico gave that was progressive in nature or to the left, and they're going to use that time and again to try and brand him as a far left guy. That's the kind of playbook I expect, and they're not going to waste anytime doing that," he added. Talarico, who was first elected to the Texas House in 2018 by flipping a red district in northeast Austin and surrounding suburbs, highlighted his ability to win over Republican voters. He campaigned across the state, including in areas where Democratic candidates don't often show up. And he questioned whether Crockett could run a competitive general election campaign.While dramatically outraising and outspending Crockett the past two months, Talarico cast himself as the underdog in the primary battle against the better-known congresswoman. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)The two-term Crockett, who