Texas Dem Senate Primary Turns Ugly Over Alleged Racial Comments

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Tensions in the race between Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) and state Rep. James Talarico (D) are consuming Texas Democrats and threatening to overshadow both candidates' Senate campaigns with weeks before the primary. Crockett and Talarico are facing off in a close race for the Democratic nomination for Sen. John Cornyn's (R) Senate seat, which Democrats are targeting as part of their hopes to retake control of the upper chamber. Posts on TikTok stirred the pot this week when a user alleged that Talarico described former Rep. Colin Allred (Texas), the Democratic nominee for Senate in Texas in 2024, as a 'mediocre Black man' and Crockett as a 'formidable' and 'intelligent Black woman' in a private conversation last month.

Why it matters

The race has been relatively mild so far, but the latest comments have thrown the contest into flux and infuriated Allred, who slammed Talarico and threw his support behind Crockett for the nomination. Democrats said this isn't what the party needs with less than a month left before primary day.

The details

Talarico said his comments were mischaracterized and that he was only referring to Allred's electoral strategy rather than to him as a person. Crockett released a statement that did not mention Talarico by name but voiced support for Allred. The exchange came a week after Punchbowl News reported that the congresswoman plans to roll out attack ads against Talarico after months of what's been a mostly positive campaign between the two of them.

• The primary election is scheduled for March 5, 2023.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Judge Leon plans to rule on Sen. Mark Kelly's lawsuit to block the Pentagon from censuring him and cutting his pay for a video he appeared in by the middle of next week.