Photo: Danielle Villasana / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Texas state Rep. James Talarico has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas, defeating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a closely watched race between two rising Democrats in the state.
Decision Desk HQ projected Talarico as the winner Tuesday night (March 3) after he secured a majority of the vote, allowing him to avoid a runoff and claim the Democratic nomination.
Talarico, an Austin-area lawmaker and former public school teacher who later pursued theological studies as a Presbyterian seminarian, campaigned on issues including public education, healthcare, and economic inequality.
Crockett, a Dallas-area congresswoman and former public defender, entered the race with greater national visibility after gaining attention for viral moments during congressional hearings and her outspoken criticism of Republicans.
Voting issues in Dallas and Williamson counties created controversy on Election Day. Some voters reported being turned away from polling locations after being told they had arrived at the wrong precinct.
A Dallas County judge initially ordered polls to remain open for two additional hours because of the confusion. The Texas Supreme Court later blocked that extension and directed election officials to separate ballots cast after the original 7 p.m. closing time.
Crockett told supporters Tuesday night that thousands of ballots from Dallas County — a key base of support for her campaign — could be impacted by the legal dispute.
“We were able to keep the polls open, but I can tell you now that people have been disenfranchised,” Crockett said.
Talarico also called for voting hours to be extended earlier in the evening and later said every vote should be counted.
On Wednesday (March 4), Crockett announced that she reached out to congratulate Talarico, writing on X, "This morning I called James and congratulated him on becoming the Senate nominee."
She added, "Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot."
The Democratic primary unfolded alongside a competitive Republican race for the same seat. John Cornyn and Ken Paxton are expected to face each other in a May 26 runoff after neither candidate secured a majority of the vote.
The Texas Senate race has already drawn record spending during the primary and is expected to attract even more national attention ahead of November’s general election.
Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988. In 2018, Democrat Beto O'Rourke came within a few percentage points of defeating Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
Talarico will now face the Republican nominee in November.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.