James Talarico wins Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate
State Rep. James Talarico is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas.
Talarico, who is from Round Rock and represents the Austin area in the Texas House, defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas. He declared victory around 2 a.m. Wednesday.
“We’re about to take back Texas,” Talarico said in a statement.
Crockett said Wednesday morning that she called Talarico to congratulate him.
“Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person,” she said in a statement. “This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot.”
Talarico has 52.8% of the vote to Crockett’s 45.9%, with 92% of polling locations reporting, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
Legal confusion over voting on primary night
Crockett had predicted that the race wouldn’t be decided Tuesday night because of the confusion over polling places in Dallas County.
Just before 7 p.m. Tuesday, a Dallas County judge extended polling hours until to 9 p.m. after Crockett and Talarico objected to the county parties moving away from countywide voting.
Hours later, the Texas Supreme Court stayed the ruling and ordered that “votes cast by voters who were not in line to vote at 7 p.m. should be separated” from votes cast later in the night.
“I have no idea how clerks are going to know who got in line at what time,” Crockett said.
Crockett told her supporters to enjoy themselves, but that she wouldn’t be back to talk publicly.
Talarico told supporters in Austin that “every vote must be counted.”
“Every voice must be heard,” he said. “This voter suppression in my home county and in Congresswoman Crockett’s home county underscores the gravity of this moment.”
There were similar reports of voter confusion and court intervention in Williamson County in Central Texas.
Talarico’s campaign promises in Senate race
Talarico based his campaign around the idea of uniting Texans, telling voters the fight in the U.S. isn’t left versus right, but “top versus bottom.” He’s previously said support from Republicans and independents is necessary to win in November.
Talarico said the number of young people, non-voters, independents and Republican voters who cast ballots in the primary race is “unprecedented.”
“Tonight, the people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope, and a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing,” Talarico said.
What Jasmine Crockett said about vote results
Crockett supporters at her election night party expressed frustration, saying the decision by the Texas Supreme Court had cheated Dallas County’s voters.
“The same things keep happening in every election,” said Onikeh Brown-Wilson, a Crockett supporter from Denton County.
“That’s why we’re looking for candidates like Jasmine to help us get over those hurdles,” she said.
Crockett jumped into the race on Dec. 8, the final day of candidate filing, joining Talarico, a former San Antonio school district teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, who announced his bid in September.
The months since have been a battle between two candidates with different styles of governing: Crockett, a fighter with a Washington track record, vs. Talarico, who preaches unity and neighborly love.
Many Crockett supporters at her watch party Tuesday pointed to that fighter reputation when explaining their support for her.
“Kumbaya does not work with Republicans. They’re not interested,” said Diane Clinkscale, a Dallas County Crockett supporter.
Talarico supporters praised his message of unity.
“That’s something that I really value within my own personal life, because I think unity is very important,” said Allison Fernandez from Austin, who said she worked as an intern for Talarico when she was in college.
What polls said about Crockett-Talarico race
Polls have swung between the candidates as they made their cases for why they’re the best person to take on a Republican nominee in November.
Talarico says he has a record of flipping GOP seats, having done so in the past when elected to the Texas House. Crockett, a former state representative herself, has pointed to experience governing in Washington and as an attorney.
The race has been increasingly heated in the lead up to Election Day.
Talarico made headlines for allegedly referring to U.S. Rep. Colin Allred as a “mediocre Black man” — a remark Talarico said was mischaracterized. He saw a fundraising bump after a spat between Late Show host Stephen Colbert and CBS over a Talarico interview that was ultimately aired on YouTube instead of TV.
Crockett has criticized a political action committee that’s supporting Talarico for ads she’s described ads as racist. Her campaign has described the PAC as being “funded by billionaires and the Epstein Class.” An attack ad from the group challenges her electability, which she’s defended, including during a Fort Worth campaign stop. Her campaign has said a mailer from the group darkens her skin tone, which a spokesperson for the PAC said isn’t true in a statement to the Star-Telegram.
Who raised the most money in Crockett-Talarico campaigns
The candidates and their supporters are spending big, but Talarico has had the fundraising edge. He’s reported nearly $21 million in contributions to Crockett’s nearly $9 million, Federal Election Commission records show.
This year’s Texas Senate primaries have seen record spending on ad buys and reservations, according to AdImpact. The ad tracking company reports that most of the money has gone toward the Republican races, but the Democratic primary as still drawn a hefty $30 million.
Talarico will face Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Nov. 3 election. Cornyn and Paxton are in a May 26 runoff.
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 7:15 PM.
.jpg)