Texas Rep. James Talarico has won the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Texas, defeating Rep. Jasmine Crockett and securing enough votes to avoid a runoff, according to projections by CBS News. The race is considered one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterm cycle. Talarico will now face the Republican nominee in the general election, which will be decided in a May 26 GOP primary runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The Texas Senate primary has already become the most expensive in the state’s history and has exposed deep divisions within both major parties. Crockett, a former public defender known for her strong criticism of former President Donald Trump and other Republicans, positioned herself as a combative voice for the Democratic base. Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian minister-in-training, campaigned on a message centered around inclusivity and what he described as a “politics of love.”
Democrats have not won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, though the party has remained hopeful after Beto O’Rourke came within three points of defeating Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018. The race also unfolded amid political tensions following the redrawing of Texas’ congressional districts by the Republican-led legislature, which drew national attention after Democrats temporarily fled the state to block the move. Despite last-minute disruptions involving voting rules in Dallas County, early voting turnout surged, with about 1.5 million ballots cast during the 11-day early voting period — more than double the total recorded four years ago.
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