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.”

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[–] 119 points 8 months ago (12 children)

It was frustrating to see Jasmine Crockett make the same mistakes as Kamala Harris in her campaign. Lots of “not that guy” and very little “why me”. Not once did I ever hear about Crockett’s policies in this entire election cycle. In contrast, every video of Talarico out there is him spitting bars about the same policies he has been fighting for for years.

Anyway, the battle is still ahead of us.

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  • [–] 19 points 8 months ago

    Crockett is great at the “sick burn” politics. Great for people who subscribe to RawStory for all their news, and I’d have been happy enough to vote for her, but Talarico seems to be more substantive and let’s be honest, a white guy vs black woman in Texas is a bit more of a challenge.

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  • [–] 26 points 8 months ago (4 children)

    Yeah, I couldn’t name a single policy position of hers other than her notable support for Zionism.

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  • [–] 14 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    Yeah, I couldn’t name a single policy position of hers other than her notable support for Zionism.

    She didn't really have any. Afaict, most of the people who seem to support Crockett was primarily because of her appearance as a fighter. But if you paid attention to Crockett, it was always windows dressing criticism. Criticism about style without being critical of the content.

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  • [–] 4 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    From supporters of hers I hear that she will fight Trump. Which I tend to follow up with, so what will she do once Trump is no longer in office. It's clear very few seem to be thinking that far.

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  • [–] 8 points 8 months ago*

    Yeah she had this clap back thing going on, but when you look at her actual responses, its all style commentary. Her policy positions show her to be pro-Israel in the same ways as Trump. Carte-blanche effectively.

    As an aside, here is the candidate who just took her seat (this was from October 8th 2023):

    And its an extremely safe blue seat, thanks to dummy-mandering.

    I'd call that an upgrade.

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  • [–] 8 points 8 months ago

    Particularly bad time to be a Zionist in US politics I would think. And after the oil price shock has had a chance to fuck the rural US squarely in the keister, it'll be even less.

    AI bros running their datacenters on LNG not thinking about how cutting off a quarter of the world's supply might affect their costs...

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  • [–] 47 points 8 months ago* (3 children)

    I actually really like everything I've seen out of Talarico. Hopefully he can give Christians an off ramp from Christian Nationalism, MAGA and the Republican party.

    Video from one of his sermons

    Hope he can turn Texas blue

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago

    I’m not Christian myself, but he seems like the good kind. I’ve heard people upset with him for going to seminary school, but I am not someone to judge based off their beliefs; I judge actions. I grew up with a lot of very good Christians, I grew up with a lot of very shitty Christian’s. I learned that is the character of the person that matters, and from all I’ve see of Talerico, he seems on the level.

    I would love to see some good Christian examples back. If you actually live by the teachings, at least the ones I grew up with (grew up Lutheran), they can be a positive force. But the mainstream, megachurch, chuddy, nationalist version of it that’s taken over this nation is an affront to nearly everything I was taught it stands for. I’m no longer a believer (probably never was), but I still have many positive associations with my former faith. I still know a lot of “normal” Christian’s who hate what is happening. My possibly naive hope is that Talerico can provide that off ramp for some of the other extremism going on in the religious world.

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  • [+] -6 points 8 months ago (2 children)
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    [–] 81 points 8 months ago (13 children)

    AIPAC money and a Harris endorsement appears to have obliterated an 18 point polling lead. That's crazy to think about.

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  • [–] 68 points 8 months ago (5 children)

    The Colbert fiasco with the FCC trying to silence Talarico really did a number here.

    Love that Trump still manages to fuck things up for himself.

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  • [–] 24 points 8 months ago (4 children)

    That's the most sane thing in America politics for a while lol. It's crazy that she couldn't predict that it would happen.

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  • [–] 20 points 8 months ago (3 children)

    Harris is running for Pres again in 2028, she has learned nothing, and we will all suffer the cost.

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  • [–] 29 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    As long as we get a primary, she won't make it past that

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  • [–] 32 points 8 months ago

    I like to think Carr and Colbert had a huge hand in this outcome. Carr through the Streisand Effect, and Colbert through what we at work call "Short-timers Syndrome."

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  • [–] 28 points 8 months ago (4 children)

    The other good news is that Cornyn and Paxton are headed to a runoff, so they can beat the shit out of each other while Talarico campaigns for the general.

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  • [–] 4 points 8 months ago (3 children)

    Looks like that situation might change. Apparently trump has been “truthing” that he’s going to endorse one of them and ask the other to step down instead of letting it go to a runoff, and obviously his choice is going to be Paxton. You know, just normal democracy things where the king picks the winner instead of the people.

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  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    Hopefully the fact that the republican party impeached Paxton will help turn people away from voting for him. He also famously committed fraud while in office. Even if they don't vote for Talarico, less voters for Paxton is a good thing.

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  • [–] 168 points 8 months ago (54 children)

    I love Jasmine Crockett but infuriatingly, a white man that talks frequently about his Christian faith is much more likely to win a senate seat in Texas.

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  • [–] 107 points 8 months ago (7 children)

    I also like Crockett, but to be fair I haven't seen much about Talerico I don't like beyond his Christianity. To be fair in that regard he at least talks the talk of a genuine Christian, rather than the hate mongering bigotry you normally see.

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  • [–] 57 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    Remember that Crockett took a $25k paid trip to Israel by an AIPAC affiliate. Also Talarico's messaging blows hers out of the water with independents and moderate Republicans, and yet still manages to put him closer to AOC in attacking billionaires.

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  • [–] 11 points 8 months ago

    Agreed. If Crockett had more leftist ideals and political substance, she'd be a member of the squad. That is not what she is tho. I hope she stays fighting as a Rep and is supportive of initiatives coming from the left wing of the party.

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  • [–] 8 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    This is one of the things that gives me the most hope for him as a candidate. He is (imo) a great public example of how to a person of faith in politics. I think setting this example will have a large impact on US politics as a whole. I think there are a ton of Christians that would break with Trump in a heartbeat given the choice between a Talarico and a Christian nationalist (as unfortunate as that scenario is).

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  • [–] 6 points 8 months ago

    I've said it before and I'll say it again: progressive Christians are probably our best bet of significant progress. There are plenty of problems with the dogma and institutions of most modern Christian sects, but Jesus himself was obviously extremely progressive. And Christians as a whole (2/3 of Americans) tend to let Christian messaging heavily influence their vote.

    A wave of Talaricos could seriously jeopardize the Republican party. This should be highly encouraged.

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  • [–] 37 points 8 months ago (7 children)

    The good news is that Crockett will remain in Congress where she has been a very effective critic of MAGA. I'm sorry she probably won't be able to move beyond that position, but that's the consequences of being a black woman politician in Texas. She's lucky to be in that office at all.

    AOC, OTOH, has a good chance of taking Schmuck Schumer's or BackStabbing Gillibrand's seats, and I wish she'd get to doing it. Those two have to go, especially Schmuckie-Boy.

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  • [–] 14 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    I thought that part of the reason she was running for senate was that her district had been gerrymandered out of existence - if so, she will only be in the house until January.

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  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    someone should take hakeem jefferies seat too.

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago (1 child)

    Absolutely. I think Schmuck is far worse, but that doesn't mean Jeffries isn't awful, too. The Dems will never get anywhere with those two losers leading. They will always lose to MAGA, because they have a sick obsession with being polite to literally the worst people on the planet.

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  • [–] 36 points 8 months ago* (8 children)

    Tbf he's Presbyterian, the same church as Mr Rogers, and by this atheist's view, the only genuinely honest Christian sect as a whole. They focus heavily on Christ's teaching on community, believe in the charitable service of others as the devine will of god, and they don't prostilitize or require tithes. That's not to say bad people can't be apart of any faith, but as he's a minister of that church (like Mr Rogers) I'm inclined to think he's honest about those core beliefs and not just riding the good name of the church like other politicians have.

    Ultimately none of that really matters. He's on record more progressive than Crockett, and unlike her, did not take AIPAC money. That should be a deal breaker for any voter I don't care what party, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion.

    https://www.trackaipac.com/states/texas

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  • [–] 9 points 8 months ago

    Presbyterians, ELCA Lutherans, and United Methodists coalition together. Just FWIW. They have different theologies but very similar approaches to what ultimately matters out in the world: ethics

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  • [–] 12 points 8 months ago (5 children)

    the only genuinely honest Christian sect as a whole.

    Are you not counting unitarians? Because hands down they're the best denomination. Only ones I see consistently waving rainbow flags and free Palestine banners.

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  • [–] 12 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    Unitarian is not Christian. There are a lot of disaffected Christians at your local Unitarian church, but they welcome all religions as well as atheists.

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  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago

    what makes you say they're not christian? they believe in god and they follow the teachings of christ. calling them not christian feels very "evangelicals say ethiopian orthodox isn't real christianity" to me.

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  • [–] 10 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    Most Quakers seem chill, but maybe I’m overlooking some shitty views they may hold?

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  • [–] 31 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    I like her and it's clear her messaging is orchestrated to appeal to those of us who hate maga and the rapist in chief BUT she's an ardent AIPAC shill. Fuck every single AIPAC backed candidate regardless of party. Fuck them all.

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  • [–] 21 points 8 months ago

    My problem with Crockett was that she took corporate PAC money. Talerico ran on not taking corporate PAC money.

    I don't think Talerico is nearly progressive enough, with the main issue I found being that he supports a public option over universal healthcare, which will ultimately leave insurance corporations in charge. I do hope that, if elected, he could be convinced to pivot further left and that he will continue to not take corporate money, but at this point, I'll believe it when I see it.

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  • [–] 21 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    I love his gimmick! Being openly Christian and stuff, but not being an intolerant, genocidal brained, warmonger!

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  • [–] 10 points 8 months ago

    He seems to have threaded the needle of studying the bible and not becoming an atheist or a rabid right winger. His belief does appear to be a major factor in trying to help the people who need help. You know, like Jesus said you should.

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  • [–] 19 points 8 months ago

    Same, me and my wife were split on this vote, but I'd be fine voting for either one, I just wish they were running for different seats. Hope Crockett sticks around to oust Cruz in 2031, but I imagine she finds another race before then.

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  • [–] 27 points 8 months ago (6 children)

    This map convinces me of that. Even amongst the people voting in a dem primary, the rural people preferred the white church boy. Crockett is more qualified, but Talarico has a better chance of actually winning.

    Fortunately, they were both good candidates.

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  • [–] 40 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 child)

    Crockett is more qualified,

    Because she has 3 whole years in the House..

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmine_Crockett

    And Tarico only has checks notes 8 years of experience in House.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Talarico

    But it's not just that, he's religious and the grandson a Christian church leader! Not like Crockett who...

    Is religious and the daughter of a Christian church leader...

    Well, she only takes some money from corporate PACS, and he takes... Well, he takes none, but...

    The only thing Crockett has more experience in, is losing elections.

    The only one she won, was because crypto bros bought it for her and the incumbent heavily supported her.

    On November 20, 2021, incumbent representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas's 30th congressional district announced she would not seek reelection in 2022.[24] Four days later, Crockett declared her candidacy for the seat. Johnson simultaneously announced that she was backing Crockett.[25][26]

    Crockett also received extensive financial support from Super PACs aligned with the cryptocurrency industry, with Sam Bankman-Fried's Protect Our Future PAC giving $1 million in support of her campaign.[27]

    There's no logical reason for everyone to have such high options of her, except you all fell for billionaire and Republican propaganda

    Can you give me a logical defense of:

    Crockett is more qualified,

    Because I legitimately never understood her "rise".

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  • [–] 4 points 8 months ago

    Can you give me a logical defense of:

    Crockett is more qualified,

    Crockett has 3 yrs in the Texas House and 3 years in the US House.

    Talarico's 8 yrs have been solely in the Texas House.

    I think most people weight national legislative experience significantly higher than state legislative experience.

    Plus Crockett has a demonstrated track record of getting national news coverage opposing Trump.

    I'm really not looking to get into a debate though. I'm not a Texan and have only casually followed this race. They seem like remarkably comparable candidates overall. I just wanted to say that from the outsider's perspective, Talarico seems to have a better chance in the generals.

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  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago

    What you see on this map is the Hispanic population overwhelmingly supporting Talarico over Crockett, and vice versa for the black population. This bodes well for a general election, given Texas is 40% Hispanic.

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  • [–] 43 points 8 months ago* (9 children)

    It's not about race...

    Talarico is more progressive and can convince people to agree with him.

    Crockett is more conservative and just yells at people, that's why the NRSC manipulated her into running, why after that came out she refused to acknowledge it, and why she's now claiming the reason she lost is racism and she's suing.

    Even if we were skipping a general and either one was guaranteed to be a Texas Senator, Talarico.was the best choice.

    It wasn't just "who's most electable" and frankly it's concerning that so many people didn't look deeper than skin color but are so opinionated on this.

    You're the reason the NRSC tried this manipulation, because it worked on you.

    We can't afford for it to happen again, look into candidates and what they actually have as a platform. Not just who's the most outrageous on social media.

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago

    Ah, but you're forgetting that this is america where if a white man wins any competition against a black woman, the only conceivable reason has to be racism.

    If people vote based on the merits of the individuals' policy platforms or who they receive their funding from, then it's racism plain and simple. Only the people whose voting choices are entirely based on skin color aren't racist. Anything else is colorblind racism.

    In case it isn't clear:

    /s, but some people do insist on this unironically

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  • [+] -3 points 8 months ago (8 children)
  • [–] 17 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (3 children)

    It's part of it, of course. He's more "electable" (cough hhhwhite).

    But there's a lot to dislike about Jasmine Crockett for this particular race without even getting into policy - just campaign strategy.

    Her strategy is to energize dem voters in Texas at the expense of angering conservatives and "moderates". She's good at that, and has been vocally slapping down Republican politicians on the hill for a while now. That will all be used against her by the Republican opposition in this race. They will use her viral clips in smear campaigns to energize Republican voters to save their state from the woke angry black lady - that is a message that will land great with their base and even with many "moderates/undecideds". There's a reason the republican party has backed her campaign, and it isn't because they think she can win. It's about race and gender, but also messaging.

    Talarico is much more mild mannered and has a strategy of winning over Republican voters. That is not usually a winning strategy. But in Texas when many people want an alternative to Trump & cronies that shares their christian values? It's got a real shot. People are fucking stupid and care more about messaging than actual politics. He's got the messaging that will appeal to them. He's a seminarian. He looks like a choir boy. He is fucking great at rhetoric. He is electable for more reasons than just race.

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago* (2 children)

    The worst part of this, is that you and other people do see it that way.

    The thing that really bothers me is that Republicans vote against their interests, "leftists" vote on what they think someone's interests are, and the majority just wants to fucking live. And we get outvoted on hate or speculation every single time.

    And when I say we, I mean us.

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago* (1 child)

    Again, I was ignoring policy in that comment.

    I believe Talarico's policies/positions and alignments (especially regarding Israel as Crockett is AIPAC funded & trans rights) are better.

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  • [–] 16 points 8 months ago* (1 child)

    You're literally falling for Republican propaganda...

    The National Republican Senatorial Committee put out a poll in July with Crockett’s name included, which showed her as the leading Democrat in a hypothetical matchup.

    “When we saw the results, we were like, ‘OK, we got to disseminate this far and wide,’” a source familiar with the process told NOTUS.

    The fact that Crockett was included in the poll was no accident.

    In June news broke that Texas Democrats Colin Allred, James Talarico, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke and Rep. Joaquin Castro met to discuss the 2026 election. Operatives at the NRSC realized that Crockett — whose political stock had been rising — wasn’t included in that meeting and also hadn’t been included in any credible poll. So they decided to change that.

    https://www.notus.org/senate/jasmine-crockett-nrsc-texas-senate

    That propaganda is literally the only reason she ran:

    Crockett herself even admitted she was encouraged to jump into the race by all the positive polling she was seeing ahead of her announcement.

    "The more I saw the poll results, I couldn’t ignore the trends that were clear,” Crockett said during her announcement speech.

    Crockett did not return a request for comment.

    We can't afford to just ignore that people are being manipulated..

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  • [–] 7 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    He was the better candidate with a more attractive message for the target audience.

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago

    They also had the earned media from the Trump/ Colbert thing.

    I genuinely think Crockett wins without that. That was hundreds of millions in earned media, and just an unforced error on the part of Trump.

    If Trump had just "done nothing", that Talarico interview maybe gets 80k views coming from people who just "Like Colbert". Instead it got millions of views because it was the thing everyone was interested in for 48 hours. And it got a lot of people who would have not known who Talarico was to learn the name.

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  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago

    conservatives/or "on the fence" are likely to choose a white man, christian over women any day, if they have to somehow vote for D, they would never do it for the likes harris, and clinton because they are women.

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