Texas Democrat Talarico Defies 'Moderate' Label, Holds Progressive Views

MS NOW analyst says Talarico's religious rhetoric masks his far-left policy positions similar to defeated primary opponent Crockett.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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MS NOW analyst John Heilemann argued that Texas Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, who recently defeated progressive firebrand Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic Senate primary, may appear moderate due to his religious rhetoric but ultimately holds policy positions as far-left as Crockett's. Heilemann said Talarico has built a coalition similar to former President Barack Obama's, appealing to a range of voters from young progressives to Hispanic voters.

Why it matters

Talarico's victory in the Democratic primary despite his progressive views challenges the perception that he is a moderate, which could impact the dynamics of the general election race for the Senate seat in Texas, a traditionally Republican state. His ability to build a diverse coalition could serve as a model for Democrats in other parts of the country.

The details

Heilemann argued that while Talarico is often portrayed as a moderate due to his religious background as a former Presbyterian seminarian and guest preacher, his actual policy positions are quite progressive, similar to those of his defeated primary opponent Jasmine Crockett. Talarico has used biblical references to defend abortion rights and has equated Christianity with other faiths, saying he has 'learned more about my tradition by learning more about Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam and Judaism.' He has also stated that 'America is not a Christian nation' but rather a 'multiracial, multicultural melting pot.'

  • Talarico defeated progressive firebrand Crockett in the Texas Democratic Senate primary on March 1, 2026.
  • The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The players

James Talarico

A 36-year-old Texas Democratic state representative who recently won the Democratic Senate primary in Texas, despite being portrayed as a moderate due to his religious rhetoric. Talarico holds progressive policy positions similar to his defeated primary opponent, Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

Jasmine Crockett

A progressive Democratic state representative in Texas who was defeated by Talarico in the Democratic Senate primary.

John Heilemann

An analyst on MS NOW who argued that Talarico's religious background masks his far-left policy positions.

James Carville

A veteran Democratic strategist who recently raised the point that Talarico and Crockett had 'basically the same positions on almost every issue.'

Barack Obama

The former U.S. president whose coalition-building strategy Talarico is said to be emulating.

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What they’re saying

“The key thing here is that James Talarico was cast and increasingly still is cast — I say increasingly — but still is cast as a moderate. He's not a moderate. He and Jasmine Crockett had basically the same positions on almost every issue.”

— John Heilemann, MS NOW Analyst (MS NOW)

“He's a populist. He's a progressive. He's pretty far to the left on a lot of issues, but mostly he's an outsider. And you could see that in the results on Tuesday, where he basically carried all of the counties that Bernie Sanders carried in the 2020 primary against Joe Biden.”

— John Heilemann, MS NOW Analyst (MS NOW)

“His coalition is the coalition of upscale professionals, young voters, hardcore progressives, and as you point out, Hispanics. That is where the — that's where the Barack Obama thing comes into play.”

— John Heilemann, MS NOW Analyst (MS NOW)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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