Texas Democrats Locked In Tight Senate Primary Battle

Texas Democrats are locked in a surprisingly tight Senate primary, and the bitter battle within the party is exposing deep divisions just as Republicans appear poised to maintain control of the seat.

Early results show State Sen. James Talarico holding a narrow lead over Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the race to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. With roughly 67% of the vote counted late Tuesday night, DecisionDesk reported Talarico with 51.5% of the vote compared to Crockett’s 47.2%.

The winner will face a Republican in the general election but even that contest remains unsettled.

Neither Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton nor longtime Sen. John Cornyn secured enough support to avoid a runoff in the Republican primary. That means GOP voters will return to the polls for a May 26 runoff, where the party’s nominee will ultimately be decided.

Political analysts still see Republicans as the clear favorite in November.

The Cook Political Report currently rates the Texas Senate race as “Likely Republican,” reflecting the state’s consistent conservative tilt. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, when Lloyd Bentsen last won the seat.

Even so, Democrats have spent months fighting a brutal internal battle.

The campaign has been marked by accusations, media drama, and heated personal attacks between candidates and their allies.

One of the most controversial moments came when Talarico claimed the Trump administration prevented a scheduled television appearance from airing. According to the state senator, an interview he conducted with late-night host Stephen Colbert was blocked due to the Federal Communications Commission’s Equal Time Rule.

“This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see,” Talarico said at the time.

The claim quickly drew pushback.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr dismissed the accusation, saying the candidate was manipulating media narratives for attention and fundraising.

“You had a Democrat candidate who understood the way the news media works,” Carr said at a press conference. “He took advantage of prior assumptions to run a hoax, apparently for the purpose of raising money and getting clicks.”

The dispute only added fuel to an already contentious primary.

Former Rep. Colin Allred who lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2024 Senate race also entered the fray after reports surfaced that Talarico privately described Allred as “a mediocre Black man” while discussing campaign strategy.

Allred responded publicly, posting a video criticizing Talarico.

“Thank you for telling us who you really are and what you really think,” Allred said. “And goodbye.”

Talarico later denied the characterization, saying his comments referred to campaign strategy rather than personal attacks and insisting he would never criticize Allred based on race.

Meanwhile, Crockett’s campaign has leaned heavily on national Democratic figures.

She recently received the endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who urged Texas voters to support Crockett in the race.

“Texas has the chance to send a fighter like Jasmine Crockett to the United States Senate,” Harris said during a campaign call promoting Crockett’s candidacy.

Despite the high-profile support, Democrats still face steep political headwinds in Texas.

Republicans currently hold every statewide elected office in Texas, and the GOP has won the state in every presidential election since 1980. In 2024, Donald Trump carried Texas comfortably, reinforcing the state’s position as a key Republican stronghold.

That reality means the Democratic nominee whether Talarico or Crockett will face an uphill climb in the general election.

For now, the immediate fight remains inside the Democratic Party itself, where a bitter primary battle is still too close to call.

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