Overview
- The hourlong faceoff at the Texas AFL-CIO convention in Georgetown underscored a stylistic contrast between Jasmine Crockett’s combative, viral-ready persona and James Talarico’s measured, faith-oriented approach.
- Policy differences were limited as both candidates backed term limits for U.S. Supreme Court justices and opening Medicare to all citizens, with Talarico saying he is open to court expansion and Crockett expressing support for adding justices.
- On immigration, each called for sweeping changes to ICE without embracing the phrase “defund ICE,” and Republican candidates John Cornyn and Ken Paxton quickly claimed the Democrats want to abolish the agency.
- Polling remains unsettled, with an Emerson survey putting Talarico ahead and earlier Texas Southern University and Crockett internal polls showing her leading, while Crockett posts overwhelming support among Black Democratic voters.
- The debate doubled as a pitch for the Texas AFL-CIO’s endorsement, which could influence up to 235,000 affiliated members, as the race moves toward the March 3 primary following the Feb. 2 registration deadline and Feb. 17 start of early voting.