Anggota Dewan Perwakilan Negara Bagian James Talarico mengalahkan Rep. Jasmine Crockett dalam primer Demokrat Texas untuk Senat AS pada 3 Maret 2026, di tengah partisipasi pemilih Latino yang tinggi di beberapa kabupaten. Crockett mengakui kekalahannya keesokan paginya, mendesak persatuan partai. Kemenangan ini menimbulkan harapan bagi Demokrat di negara bagian merah tua saat Talarico bersiap menghadapi baik Sen. John Cornyn atau Jaksa Agung Ken Paxton pada November.
Primer Demokrat Texas untuk Senat AS menyaksikan Anggota Dewan Perwakilan Negara Bagian James Talarico meraih kemenangan atas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, dengan hasil sementara menunjukkan ia unggul sekitar 3 poin di seluruh negara bagian dan 22 poin di kabupaten-kabupaten mayoritas Latino. Pemilu yang digelar pada 3 Maret 2026 menampilkan partisipasi dramatis di kalangan pemilih Latino, membalikkan tren erosi baru-baru ini bagi Demokrat di Lembah Rio Grande. Di lima kabupaten pedesaan mayoritas Latino—Zapata, Kenedy, Jim Hogg, Reeves, dan Dimmit—suara yang dicoblos dalam primer Demokrat lebih banyak daripada untuk Kamala Harris dalam pemilu presiden 2024. Talarico memperoleh 55 persen suara di kabupaten-kabupaten tersebut. 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.
