State lawmaker beats Jasmine Crockett in fiercely contested election marked by record turnout and confusion at polls

James Talarico won the Democratic nomination for a US Senate seat in Texas on Tuesday, capping a remarkable rise from state lawmaker and seminary student to the party’s standard-bearer in one of the key races of the 2026 midterm cycle.

With his blend of faith-based populism, bipartisan appeal and generational energy, Talarico defeated Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a firebrand beloved by the party’s base but who struggled to dispel concerns that she could defeat a Republican in a state that has not elected a Democrat statewide in more than 30 years.

A jubilant Talarico told supporters in Austin before the race was called: “We are not just trying to win an election. We are trying to fundamentally change our politics. And it’s working.”

  • CircaV@lemmy.caEnglish
    14·
    21 hours ago

    As a non-American. What happens to Jasmine Crockett now? Does she still have an official political role?

    • webadict@lemmy.world
      35·
      20 hours ago

      Talarico, the more popular of the two, will do his best to consume Crockett whole (and possibly her family if he can find them) in order to consolidate the voting base and display his prowess. Failure to do so could lead to a third party situation, such as Andrew Cuomo, who was consumed far later than the primary.

    • IamSparticles@lemmy.zipEnglish
      14·
      20 hours ago

      Primary elections are where a political party selects their candidate to run in the general election in the fall. Jasmine Crockett will not be on the ballot as a representative of the Democrat party. She could still run in the general, but it would be for a different party or, if Texas allows it, an independent. Some people do that, but it’s usually considered a real dick move, as it tends to split the vote and make it more likely for the opposing party to win. It’s basically a good way to end your political career for good.

        • IamSparticles@lemmy.zipEnglish
          2·
          12 hours ago

          She still has to finish out her current term in the House of Representatives. She just won’t be continuing her run for the Senate. I don’t think she can run for re-election to the House now, since she would have to take the place of Frederick Haynes, who won the primary for her seat. If she wants to run for another position in the fall, it would likely be something at the state level.