State Rep. James Talarico defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on March 3, 2026, amid high Latino voter turnout in several counties. Crockett conceded the race the following morning, urging party unity. The victory raises hopes for Democrats in the deep-red state as Talarico prepares to face either Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton in November.
The Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate saw state Rep. James Talarico secure victory over Rep. Jasmine Crockett, with preliminary results showing him leading by about 3 points statewide and 22 points in majority-Latino counties. The election, held on March 3, 2026, featured dramatic turnout among Latino voters, reversing recent trends of erosion for Democrats in the Rio Grande Valley. In five rural majority-Latino counties—Zapata, Kenedy, Jim Hogg, Reeves, and Dimmit—more votes were cast in the Democratic primary than for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Talarico received 55 percent of the vote in those counties.
Voting issues marred the night in Dallas County, Crockett's home base with a large Black voter population. A district judge extended polling hours to 9 p.m. central time, but the Texas Supreme Court, following a request from Attorney General Ken Paxton, set aside votes from those not in line by 7 p.m. Both campaigns raised concerns about disenfranchisement. Talarico addressed supporters in Austin, saying, “We are still waiting for an official call, but we are confident in this movement we’ve built together. We are not just trying to win an election; we are trying to fundamentally change our politics, and it’s working.”
On March 4, Crockett conceded, stating, “This morning I called James and congratulated him on becoming the Senate nominee. Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track.”
The results signal potential Democratic gains, particularly among Latino voters frustrated with Republican policies on immigration and the economy. Rep. Henry Cuellar noted anger over high prices, tariffs, and immigration enforcement beyond deporting criminals, saying, “The moment they started going into work sites and going after criminal records... that has turned Hispanics against Republicans.” GOP strategist Mike Madrid highlighted shifting Latino support post-tariffs, while Democratic leaders like Kendall Scudder praised Talarico’s faith-based messaging.
Talarico’s big-tent campaign appealed to voters across parties. He now awaits the GOP runoff outcome between Cornyn and Paxton, with polls showing him leading Paxton by 3 points but trailing Cornyn by the same margin. Democrats see an opening to flip the seat, last held by their party in 1988, amid backlash to the Trump administration’s actions.
