Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate James Talarico Casts Himself as Underdog in Texas Primary

Talarico trails in polls but says he has 13,000 volunteers and is confident of victory

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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With one week left before early voting begins in the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate primary, candidate James Talarico is portraying himself as the underdog, saying he is "going up against billionaire megadonors" and "the establishment in both political parties." The latest poll shows Talarico trailing Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett by 8 percentage points, but Talarico says he has attracted over 13,000 volunteers across the state to help get his supporters to the polls.

Why it matters

The Texas Senate race is expected to be a key battleground in the 2026 midterm elections, with control of the Senate potentially hanging in the balance. Talarico's underdog campaign against the establishment candidate Crockett highlights the ongoing tensions within the Democratic party between progressive and moderate factions.

The details

Talarico held a campaign rally at the University of North Texas in Denton, where he told supporters that "the deck is stacked against us" but expressed confidence that he will prevail in the primary and general election. The latest University of Houston poll shows Crockett leading Talarico 47% to 39%, with 12% undecided. Talarico has attracted over 13,000 volunteers to help with get-out-the-vote efforts, and his campaign says he has been drawing large crowds across the state.

  • The Texas Democratic primary election is scheduled for March 5, 2026.
  • Early voting in the primary begins on February 18, 2026.

The players

James Talarico

A Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, portraying himself as the underdog against establishment candidate Jasmine Crockett.

Jasmine Crockett

A Congresswoman from Dallas who is leading Talarico in the latest poll for the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Texas.

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General who is leading the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

John Cornyn

The incumbent U.S. Senator from Texas who is trailing Paxton in the Republican primary.

Wesley Hunt

A Congressman from Houston who is running third in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

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What they’re saying

“We're going up against some of the biggest names in Texas politics. We're going up against billionaire megadonors. We're going up against the establishment in both political parties. So, we know the deck is stacked against us. We know the odds are long, but when you see the turnout at this event here at UNT. The excitement, especially among young people, in this state for change. I'm confident we will prevail in this primary and in this general election.”

— James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate (cbsnews.com)

“I think the message of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was that joy and unity and love are so much more powerful than hate and fear and division. That's exactly the message of our campaign. Obviously, I'm not Bad Bunny, and this is not a Super Bowl halftime show, but the message is the same. We are bringing people together across all these manufactured divisions to change this country on behalf of working people.”

— James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Texas Democratic primary election is scheduled for March 5, 2026, with early voting beginning on February 18, 2026. Talarico and Crockett will continue campaigning in the lead-up to the primary, with Crockett focusing on get-out-the-vote efforts during the week while the Texas legislature is in session.

The takeaway

The Texas Senate race is shaping up to be a closely watched contest, with the Democratic primary featuring a battle between the establishment candidate Jasmine Crockett and the progressive underdog James Talarico. Talarico's campaign is banking on mobilizing a grassroots movement, especially among young voters, to overcome Crockett's name recognition and institutional support.