What has Talarico done as the only official Texas Senate nominee?
Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico has spent the two months since winning the March 3 primary building support within Texas Democrats and broadening his appeal after a competitive party contest. A key priority has been strengthening outreach to Black voters through events at historically Black Colleges and Universities and meetings with Black leaders across major Texas metro areas.
His campaign has also sought high-profile momentum, including a visit to austin by former President Barack Obama in May to introduce Talarico to voters. in parallel, Talarico has campaigned alongside down-ballot candidates to boost turnout ahead of November and has worked to balance progressive themes with messages aimed at moderates and independents-such as backing proposals to suspend the federal gas tax while also calling for higher taxes on billionaires.
After the runoff, he is launching a general election kickoff tour with rallies in several Texas cities. National democrats believe fundraising and GOP turmoil will help, but polling nonetheless suggests a close race: a recent Texas Southern University poll showed tight results, with Cornyn leading Talarico 45% to 44% and Paxton tied with talarico at 45% each.
Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico has had two months since winning the March 3 primary to campaign, as Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Attorney General Ken Paxton have engaged in a bruising runoff. So what has he been up to?
In his effort to become the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat since 1988, Talarico has spent the spring consolidating support within his own party and expanding his profile beyond the liberal and suburban voters who have fueled his rise in state politics.
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A major focus has been on improving his standing with Black voters, many of whom backed Rep. Jasmine Crockett during the primary. Talarico has attended events at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and met with Black leaders in Houston, Austin, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area as his campaign works to unify Democrats after a competitive primary.
Helping with that effort was a visit to Austin by former President Barack Obama in May. During the visit, Obama introduced Talarico to voters at an Austin restaurant as the next senator from Texas, according to the New York Times.
The Democrat has also campaigned alongside down-ballot candidates in an effort to energize turnout ahead of November. Talarico and his team have appeared with Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX) in her runoff against former Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), as well as congressional candidate Johnny Garcia.
At the same time, Talarico has tried to balance progressive messaging with broader economic appeals aimed at moderates and independents. He recently backed President Donald Trump’s calls to suspend the federal gas tax amid rising prices tied to the war with Iran. At the same time, Talarico has unveiled a proposal to raise taxes on billionaires, many of whom have backed his campaign for Senate.
Following Tuesday’s runoff, Talarico is launching a general election kickoff tour with rallies planned in Houston, San Antonio, Leander, Plano, and Nacogdoches.
National Democrats are bullish that Talarico’s fundraising advantage and the contentious GOP primary will put the race into place.
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Yet, even with much attention being paid to Paxton and Talarico already in the general election, polling shows a tight race.
A recent poll from Texas Southern University showed Cornyn leading Talarico 45%-to-44%. The same poll found Paxton and Talarico tied at 45% each.
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