Crockett and Talarico ready for Senate debate as Democrats hope for breakthrough in GOP-heavy Texas

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By THOMAS BEAUMONTJanuary 24, 2026 at 04:23 PM

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U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico, Texas Democrats vying for a U.S. Senate seat, will debate on Saturday, March 3, at the Texas AFL-CIO convention in Georgetown. They are competing in the primary to challenge Republican Senator John Cornyn, who also faces primary challengers, for a seat Democrats hope to flip in the November general election. While both candidates share similar policy goals, they differ in style: Crockett is known for her outspokenness, while Talarico is a more soft-spoken former teacher. Democrats aim to gain four seats to reclaim the Senate majority, but face an uphill battle in Texas, a state that hasn't elected a Democrat statewide in over 30 years. Cornyn's primary challengers are Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Maine 30% North Carolina 30% Wesley Hunt 40% Donald Trump 40% Ken Paxton ×360% United States Senate ×360% Republican Party ×470% John Cornyn ×270% Democratic Party ×370% Texas ×680% Jasmine Crockett ×490% James Talarico ×490%

Keywords

texas senate race 100% democratic primary 80% jasmine crockett 70% james talarico 70% republican-heavy texas 60% john cornyn 50% senate majority 50% general election 40% christian nationalism 40%