Carmen Ayala
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, visited Houston on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.
The two leading Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn — U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and Austin state Rep. James Talarico — made campaign swings through Houston this week. Each candidate is making the pitch they’re the one who can beat the eventual Republican nominee in next November’s general election.
Cornyn is locked in a bitter three-way Republican primary against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston.
No Democrat has won statewide office in Texas in more than 30 years. The last Democrat to win the seat Cornyn holds was Lyndon B. Johnson, who later became United States president in 1963.
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Andrew Schneider/Houston Public Media
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, visited Houston on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
Crockett visited Houston on Sunday. She’s focused on mobilizing people who typically don’t vote.
“I absolutely plan to focus on people that have not been involved in the process. That is for sure. The people that have felt like no one has ever been talking to them and no one has ever looked out for them,” she said. “We have a great opportunity in the state of Texas, because we are one of the lowest voter turnout states in the country.”
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Talarico, who visited Houston on Wednesday, said the key is winning over people who may vote but don’t normally support Democrats.
“I have a track record of winning races like this in difficult, right-leaning environments like Williamson County, Texas. And if I can do it there, I think I can do it statewide,” Talarico said. “We need a Democrat who knows how to fight and knows how to win, because the only thing better than a fighter is a winner, and I have a track record of winning for the people of this state.”
In-person early voting in Texas’ 2026 primary elections will run from Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 27. Election Day is Tuesday, March 3.