\u201cWe\u2019re going to be respectful,\u201d said Nickens. \u201cY\u2019all might have some feelings about it, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, a warm round of applause filled the room as Talarico took the stage.<\/p>\n
This scene at last month\u2019s convention<\/a> reflected a narrative that has followed Talarico ever since he won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate<\/a> over Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett: that he could struggle to win votes from Black voters in Texas who overwhelmingly supported Crockett<\/a> in the primaries.<\/p>\n But recent polling<\/a> from The Texas Politics Project suggests Talarico may actually be in a stronger position with Black voters than public perception would suggest.<\/p>\n The poll found 67% of Black voters surveyed said they support Talarico \u2014 of note considering what those numbers looked like for previous Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate at similar points in their campaigns. In 2024, the group\u2019s polling around this time showed Colin Allred drawing 47% of the state\u2019s Black voters, while Beto O\u2019Rourke had 49% in 2018.<\/p>\n University of Texas<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n Texas Politics Project Poll <\/p>\n Those polled were asked “If the 2026 U.S. senate election in Texas were held today, and the candidates were the Republican Ken Paxton, the Democrat James Talarico, and the Libertarian Ted Brown, who would you vote for, or haven\u2019t you thought enough about it to have an opinion?” <\/p>\n “The main advantage Talarico has with Black voters and with Democratic voters in general is he’s just significantly more well known at this point in the race,\u201d said Joshua Blank, research director for The Texas Politics Project and author of the poll.<\/p>\n In a Republican-dominated state like Texas, Blank said Democratic candidates often spend much of their campaigns simply introducing themselves to voters. But Blank said Talarico entered the race with a higher profile than recent Democratic Senate nominees (though not as high-profile as Crockett, who\u2019s become a national figure<\/a> while in Congress).<\/p>\n But \u201csupport in a poll\u201d and \u201cvoter enthusiasm\u201d are not the same thing, Blank stressed.<\/p>\n That distinction was also evident in conversations The Texas Newsroom had with Texas Democratic Convention attendees after Talarico\u2019s address to the Black Caucus.<\/p>\n “When history has turned the page, we have to go with the next page,” said Margaret Thompson on her plans to vote for Talarico. “It was very hard, but I did turn the page. So, in order to win, we have to go with whoever the people’s choice has chosen.”<\/p>\n Monica Thompson said she\u2019ll likely support Talarico in November but remains frustrated with how this year\u2019s Democratic primary unfolded.<\/p>\n “We do want him to beat Ken Paxton, but I don\u2019t like the way he got it,” said Thompson. “I just don’t think Jasmine Crockett got a fair chance because of her skin color.”<\/p>\n Thousands cheer as James Talarico, candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at a rally Monday, June 1, 2026, in Plano. <\/p>\n In a general election, these somewhat-reluctant voters could prove to be a deciding factor, according to Texas Southern University political scientist Michael Adams.<\/p>\n “If we have an election that’s a statistical dead heat, those voters who may opt to stay at home would be very important,\u201d said Adams. \u201cJasmine Crockett was able to get them off of their sofas and out to the polls.\u201d<\/p>\n Talarico acknowledged this during his remarks to the Black Caucus last month.<\/p>\n “There is no way to win this race without Black Texans \u2014 no way at all,” he said. “I, as your Democratic nominee, am committed to earning the votes of every Black Texan.”<\/p>\n In the end, though, it may simply come down to party loyalty. Blank said history suggests Democratic support among Black voters tends to consolidate as Election Day approaches.<\/p>\n “In all of that polling that we’ve looked at, over many election cycles, the share of Black voters who support the Democratic candidate tends to go up the closer we get to Election Day,” he said.<\/p>\n A similar dynamic can play out among Republicans, too \u2014 both in general and specifically in Texas\u2019 U.S. Senate race.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783614795_203_.jpeg\"\/)
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