Particle.news
Download on the App Store
25 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

James Talarico Enters Texas Senate Race, Setting Up Democratic Clash With Colin Allred

Early polling shows a narrow Allred lead, leaving Democratic prospects tied to the Cornyn–Paxton outcome.

Texas State Representatives James Talarico and John Bucy III (D-TX) converse during a session as Democratic lawmakers, who left the state to deny Republicans the opportunity to redraw the state's 38 congressional districts, begin returning to the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, U.S. August 20, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores/File Photo
Image
Texas State Representative James Talarico speaks in a rally in Chicago on August 16, 2025.
Texas Rep. James Talarico has gone off the beaten media path for Democratic politicians. He spoke at a 2024 SXSW featured session, appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast, and has embraced contentious interviews with Fox News hosts.

Overview

  • Launching Tuesday, the 36-year-old state representative debuted a video centered on faith and a populist “top vs. bottom” message, then held a kickoff rally in Round Rock.
  • His bid joins a field that includes Colin Allred and former astronaut Terry Virts, with Beto O’Rourke not ruling out a run and Joaquin Castro hinting at interest.
  • Independent surveys show Allred ahead by single digits, including 50–43 in a Texas Southern University poll and 40–32 in a Public Policy Polling survey that narrows after voters hear bios.
  • Republicans face a competitive primary between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose legal controversies are seen by Democrats as a potential general-election liability.
  • Texas remains challenging for Democrats after Trump’s 2024 win by more than 13 points and a decades-long statewide drought, with the primary scheduled for March 3, 2026.