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2d ago

Texas Democrat James Talarico Launches 2026 U.S. Senate Bid, Challenging Colin Allred in Primary

Democrats say the race’s viability hinges on whether Ken Paxton unseats Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary.

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
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Texas Rep. James Talarico speaks with supporters at a rally, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at Wrigley Square in Millennium Park in Chicago. (AP Photo/Talia Sprague)
Texas Rep. James Talarico speaks at a rally, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at Wrigley Square in Millennium Park in Chicago. (AP Photo/Talia Sprague)

Overview

  • State Rep. James Talarico, 36, announced his campaign and plans a kickoff rally Tuesday evening in his hometown of Round Rock, Texas.
  • He enters a Democratic field that includes former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, the party’s 2024 nominee who raised more than $90 million, and former astronaut Terry Virts.
  • Talarico casts himself as an underdog focused on curbing billionaire influence and leans on a national profile built through viral TikTok videos and a Joe Rogan podcast appearance.
  • Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, and Republicans note that Donald Trump carried the state in 2024 by roughly 13 points as Allred lost to Sen. Ted Cruz by more than eight.
  • The Republican contest features Cornyn versus Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose impeachment and Senate acquittal have made him a polarizing figure, while Democrats nationally need a net gain of four seats in 2026 to claim a Senate majority.