Texas State Rep. James Talarico raises $7.4 million in Senate bid

The haul is the latest and largest in a string of strong fundraising performances for the Austin Democrat.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Democratic Texas State Rep. James Talarico raised over $7.4 million in the first six weeks of the year, already outpacing his fourth quarter figure and bringing his total for the cycle to over $20 million. The haul is the latest and largest in a string of strong fundraising performances for the Austin Democrat, who has built a strong small-dollar donor network and has a cash advantage over his primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas.

Why it matters

Talarico's record-breaking fundraising haul demonstrates his ability to build a formidable campaign infrastructure and mobilize grassroots support, which could give him an edge in the competitive Democratic primary against Crockett. The race has already become heated, with the two candidates engaging in a war of words and deploying significant resources into advertising.

The details

Talarico raised $6.2 million in the first three weeks of his campaign and nearly $7 million from October through December. The Talarico campaign said donations have come from every county in Texas and all 50 states throughout the cycle. In contrast, Crockett raised $6.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, with about $4.5 million transferred from her House account. Talarico began the year with a $1.5 million advantage over Crockett in cash on hand.

  • Talarico raised over $7.4 million in the first six weeks of 2026.
  • Talarico raised $6.2 million in the first three weeks of his campaign.
  • Talarico raised nearly $7 million from October through December 2025.

The players

James Talarico

A Democratic Texas State Representative running for the U.S. Senate seat.

Jasmine Crockett

A U.S. Representative from Dallas, Texas, and Talarico's primary opponent in the Democratic Senate race.

Colin Allred

A former U.S. Representative who dropped out of the Senate primary in December and endorsed Crockett.

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What they’re saying

“We have a moral imperative to win this November — because if we don't win, we can't help people. With the help of more than 290,000 of our neighbors, we're building a campaign that can stand up to the billionaire mega-donors and far right extremists hurting working people all across Texas and the country.”

— James Talarico (The Texas Tribune)

What’s next

The Democratic primary between Talarico and Crockett will be held on March 3, 2026.

The takeaway

Talarico's record-breaking fundraising haul demonstrates his ability to build a strong grassroots campaign and mobilize support across Texas, which could give him an advantage over his primary opponent Crockett in the competitive Democratic Senate race.