Story perspectives

Texas Lawmaker Talarico Faces Backlash Ahead of Senate Race

3/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker from Texas, won the Democratic Senate primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
Talarico's social media posts claiming his white skin gives him immunity from racism have drawn backlash.
Republicans have accused him of being "peak woke."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Talarico is "toast" in the election.
Talarico will face either incumbent Senator Cornyn or Texas Attorney General Paxton in the November election.

History

Historical Context

The 2018 Texas Senate election marked a pivotal moment in state politics, as Beto O'Rourke garnered 48.3% of the vote against incumbent Ted Cruz, who won by a narrow margin of 2.6%. This election highlighted the increasing competitiveness of Democrats in Texas, a state that had not elected a Democratic senator since 1988, and set the stage for ongoing Democratic efforts in future elections.

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Story summary

James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker from Texas, won the Democratic Senate primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
Talarico's social media posts claiming his white skin gives him immunity from racism have drawn backlash.
Republicans have accused him of being "peak woke."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Talarico is "toast" in the election.
Talarico will face either incumbent Senator Cornyn or Texas Attorney General Paxton in the November election.

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