Rising star Talarico topples progressive firebrand Crockett in high-stakes Texas Senate Democratic primary

State Rep. James Talarico wins Texas Democratic Senate primary, setting up historic bid to become first Democrat elected to Senate in nearly four decades. Elections Rising star Talarico topples progressive firebrand Crockett in high-stakes Texas Senate Democratic primary The 36-year-old state lawmaker will try to become first Democrat in nearly 4 decades to win Texas Senate race By Paul Steinhauser , Alex Miller Fox News Published March 4, 2026 2:46am EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Colbert slams CBS in dispute over interview with James Talarico Fox News' Mark Meredith joins 'America's Newsroom' to discuss Texas Democratic Senatorial candidate James Talarico's controversial interview on 'Late Night with Stephen Colbert.' Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy weighs in on the highly cont NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! AUSTIN, TEXAS - James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker from Texas with a surging national profile, defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a nationally known politician, progressive firebrand, and vocal critic and foil of President Donald Trump, to win the Democratic Senate primary in Texas, according to the Associated Press. Talarico, 36, will now try to become the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a Senate election in Texas, as he faces off against the winner of a bruising Republican primary runoff between longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.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. In the final weeks leading up to Tuesday's Democratic primary, race became a key factor in the showdown between Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian who is considered a rising star among Democrats, and Crockett, a civil rights attorney first elected to Congress in 2022. Texas State Rep. James Talarico, left, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett faced off for the 2026 Democratic Senate nomination in right-leaning Texas. (Bob Daemmrich/Getty Images) Talarico, who is White, was accused a month ago by an influencer of calling former Rep. Colin Allred, a former rival for the 2026 Senate nomination, a "mediocre Black man." QUITE GOP ‘ASTROTURF’ CAMPAIGN CONVINCED CROCKETT TO JUMP INTO SENATE RACE Morgan Thompson, the influencer who goes by the username @morga_tt on TikTok, in a social media post claimed Talarico told her in a private conversation that he had "signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable, intelligent, Black woman." Former Rep. Colin Allred of Texas, left, and state Rep. James Talarico (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP; Bob Daemmrich/The Texas Tribune/Bloomberg)Pushing back against Thompson's characterization of their conversation, Talarico said in a statement, "In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre — but his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race." Allred, responding in a social media video on Monday, said: "James, if you want to compliment Black women, just do it. Just do it. Don’t do it while also tearing down a Black man." TEXAS DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATES SIDESTEP ISLAMIC TERRORISM CONCERNS FOLLOWING DEADLY AUSTIN ATTACKThe 44-year-old Crockett, who is Black, said in a statement that Allred "drew a line in the sand.""He made it clear that he did not take allegations of an attack on him as simply another day in the neighborhood, but more importantly, his post wasn’t about himself," Crockett, who was endorsed by Allred, said. "It was a moment that he decided to stand for all people who have been targeted and talked about in a demeaning way as our country continues to be divided." Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, speaks after announcing her run in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (LM Otero/AP Photo) A couple of weeks later, Crockett claimed that a Talarico-aligned super PAC had darkened her skin tone in an ad and said it was "straight up racist."She also argued late last month that talk that she wasn't electable statewide was a "dog whistle" that was "tearing down a Black woman," and that she was the "most qualified" candidate.CARDI B ENDORSES JASMINE CROCKETT FOR TEXAS SENATE, DECLARING 'VOTE FOR MY SISTER' 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. 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.Talarico, who speaks openly about his faith and how it shapes his progressive policy agenda, last year started garnering national attention through a slew of social media appearances that went viral. Also boosting his profile were his Ti