Talarico Scrubs Endorsements After Primary Win

GOP challengers question move as Talarico builds coalition for general election

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:50pm

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State Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, has removed all endorsements from his campaign website following his primary victory. This move has drawn criticism from Republican opponents, who claim Talarico is hiding his "left-wing past." However, Talarico's spokesperson says many endorsers have separate general election processes, and they look forward to sharing their coalition of support.

Why it matters

Talarico's decision to scrub endorsements is unusual, as candidate endorsements typically "blow through" from the primary to the general election. This has raised questions about Talarico's strategy and the strength of his coalition as he prepares for the November contest against the Republican nominee.

The details

An archived version of Talarico's campaign site featured endorsements from various Democratic groups and Texas news outlets. However, the latest version of the page has removed all such endorsements. Republican opponents, including U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, still display their endorsements on their campaign websites.

  • Talarico recently clinched the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

The players

James Talarico

A state representative who recently won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

John Cornyn

The incumbent U.S. Senator from Texas and a Republican challenger in the upcoming general election.

Ken Paxton

The current Texas Attorney General and a Republican challenger in the upcoming U.S. Senate race.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who has weighed in on the Texas Senate race.

Greg Abbott

The current Governor of Texas who has criticized Talarico's past remarks on diversity and inclusion.

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What they’re saying

“Many Texas newspapers and organizations have separate general election endorsement processes, and we look forward to sharing the coalition of support we receive as we follow that process.”

— JT Ennis, Spokesperson for James Talarico

“It's almost like he doesn't want Texas voters to know who he's really working for. You can run, but you can't hide your left-wing past, James!”

— Greg Abbott's campaign account

The takeaway

Talarico's decision to remove endorsements from his campaign website is an unusual move that has raised questions about his strategy and the strength of his coalition as he prepares for the general election. While his spokesperson says he is proud of his primary endorsements and looks forward to sharing his general election support, Republican opponents have seized on the move as an attempt to hide his "left-wing past."