The biggest issue in the Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate isn’t healthcare, inflation or even the best way to stand up to President Donald Trump.
It’s who can win. Democrats enraged by Trump see a real opening to win over independents and even some Republicans. And they know that flipping a Senate seat from Texas could change the equation for other offices in the future, if not this year.
Any of the possible Republican nominees, even Ken Paxton, will still be the odds-on favorite. But Democrats have the chance, at a minimum, to build the party for future runs. With two major candidates to choose from and not a lot of distance between them on issues, Democrats are better off with James Talarico at the top of the ticket than Jasmine Crockett.
Talarico, a state representative and education consultant from Round Rock, shows more potential to convert voters. He packages his progressivism in a new way that broadens its appeal. He’s shown more strength in fundraising. At 36 and with just four terms in the Legislature, he brings a fresh voice.
Consider immigration. He meets a threshold of credibility some in his party miss by acknowledging that some deportations are necessary. But he packages condemnation of ICE’s tactics under Trump with an appeal for border security and orderly migration — or, as he put it in our interview and in other appearances, “a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door.”
Some have sloppily labeled the Talarico-Crockett race as moderate vs. progressive. That’s not accurate — the differences between their stances are thin and nuanced. It’s much more about communication, strategy and style.
Crockett, 44, is an impressive political talent. The two-term Dallas congresswoman gained national fame with sharp one-liners and long-distance insult wars with Trump, but in an interview, she displayed a facility with policy across the board. And refreshingly, when she isn’t well-versed, she acknowledges it and outlines core principles.
Spend time with Crockett talking beyond the sound bites, and it’s clear why Dallas political legend Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, who knew how to get elected and exercise power against long odds, backed a then-unknown state representative as her successor in Washington.
Like Talarico, Crockett would bring a level of excitement to Democratic voters, including the crucial constituency of Black women. But there’s broad concern about whether she can mount a winning campaign. She entered the primary at the last minute and has lagged in fundraising. Her campaign organization is unstable, with political veterans unsure who’s in charge.
But mostly, it’s her theory of the case that gives the edge to Talarico. Crockett has said she can win by energizing the Democratic base and bringing in new voters more so than converting independents who have been voting with Texas Republicans for decades even if they eschew the partisan label.
Political pros have a shopworn joke: What do you call a candidate whose plan to win depends on bringing new voters into the electorate? Losers.
Crockett should have a bright future in Texas politics, and perhaps nationally, if she wants it. But this time, with Democrats so hungry, is Talarico’s moment.
A third candidate, 73-year-old Ahmad Hasan of Katy, is also on the ballot. He ran for Senate in Minnesota less than two years ago. And any candidate in a Democratic primary who says that Trump is doing a great job, as he did in our interview, is wasting everyone’s time.
If, however, Hasan were to win enough of the vote to keep Crockett or Talarico from taking a majority, the race would proceed to a May 26 runoff. The winner will take on one of three leading Republicans in the fall.
Early voting in the primary is Feb. 17-27. Election Day is March 3. Senators are elected to six-year terms.
Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico speaks as he launches his U.S. Senate campaign in Round Rock in September 2025. Brandon Bell Getty Images About our campaign endorsements BEHIND THE STORY MORE Hey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; and Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor.
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The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
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