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.”

  • Sharkticon@lemmy.zip
    493·
    19 hours ago

    ITT: neoliberal shits trying hard to drive a false narrative cause they are terrified progressive candidates are coming for them. You should be. We are gonna throw you corporate slaves out.

    • TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world
      151·
      18 hours ago

      We are gonna throw you corporate slaves out.

      Blue MAGA has no place in the future DNC and this scares the shit out of them. White, middle class, “as long as its the Dems doing it, its fine” voters have had their identity catered to for the ENTIRETY of the modern manifestation of the Democratic party.

      That period is coming to an end.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      84·
      15 hours ago

      Anyone who thinks Talarico won’t align with the neoliberal shits the moment he steps into office is either very naive or very foolish.

      That said, way better than a Paxton or Cornyn. I’ll take the liberal Christian over the Christian Fascist any day.

    • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
      47·
      18 hours ago

      The false narrative being that Crockett took AIPAC money? What makes you feel that narrative is false?