Talarico Courts Senate Democrats as Texas Primaries Loom — Polling Surge Raises Stakes

James Talarico has stepped into the spotlight in Texas, meeting with multiple Senate Democrats as he challenges Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the state Democratic primary on March 3. Recent polling has given his campaign a boost, forcing both parties to reassess the November map.

The Texas state representative has spoken with at least three members of the Senate Democratic caucus. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said he is "really impressed" with Talarico, adding in a meeting that:

"He presents a very strong message. He’s an excellent campaigner, and I would be delighted if he joined our ranks in the Senate."

Talarico has also met with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who told reporters it is "too early" to consider an endorsement, and with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who said he will speak with Crockett before deciding: "I’m watching the primary very closely." For now, prominent Democrats have held conversations without committing endorsements.

Polling released recently — described by Talarico’s campaign as his best of the cycle — shows him leading Crockett and running roughly even with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in hypothetical general-election matchups. Crockett remains competitive with Paxton as well. Those numbers have unsettled Republicans, who worry about general-election vulnerability depending on their nominee.

On the GOP side, Paxton is competing with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) in a primary that could produce a runoff in May. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Semafor that if Paxton wins the Republican nomination, "there are a large number of Republicans who aren’t going to vote for him." National Democrats say they do not plan to intervene in the GOP primary.

Republican strategists and some incumbents view Talarico as a potentially stronger November challenger than Crockett. Cornyn acknowledged the dynamic, saying Talarico is "dangerous," that he could beat Crockett, and that head-to-head polls with Paxton are essentially tied. Cornyn has also struggled to expand his lead despite heavy spending and has not received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has declined to take sides, praising all three Republican candidates and stressing his trust in Texas voters: "All three of the candidates are friends of mine. I like them. I’ve worked closely with them... I trust the voters of Texas to make the decision." Cornyn described such neutrality as common, noting many lawmakers avoid intervening in primaries to avoid alienating parts of their base.

With the March 3 primary approaching and a possible May runoff on the horizon, Talarico’s rise in the polls has injected fresh urgency into both parties’ calculations about candidate recruitment, messaging and general-election strategy in Texas.