Faith-driven Democrat shakes up Texas Senate race

Democratic candidate James Talarico is trying to turn a long Republican hold into a national test of faith, class politics and opposition to Trump

Talarico won the Democratic primary in March 2026, defeating Jasmine Crockett and Ahmad Hassan, according to Ballotpedia and Texas Public Radio.

His Republican opponent will be decided in a May 26 runoff between Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Donald Trump endorsed Paxton on May 19, sharpening a GOP fight that has already drawn heavy spending.

AP reported that Cornyn’s campaign and allied groups had spent more than $87 million, compared with about $9.2 million by Paxton and his supporters.

Talarico has also shown financial strength. His campaign said he raised $27 million in the first quarter of 2026, which The Texas Tribune describes as a record first-quarter haul for a Senate candidate in an election year.

Religion and class

TV 2 Denmark frames Talarico’s appeal around a message rarely heard from Democrats at this volume: Open Christian language paired with progressive economics and civil rights.

“One of his key issues is that it is not about left wing versus right wing, but top versus bottom, rich versus poor. That is something people in Texas can relate to,” U.S. commentator Sofie Rud told the Danish network.

Rud added: “His great strength is that he unites his Christian faith with rock-solid Democratic core values.”

Teacher in politics

Talarico grew up near Austin, worked as a middle school teacher and later studied education policy at Harvard, according to USA Today.

He entered the Texas House in 2018 and built his early profile on school policy. Later, he became known nationally for voting rights fights, redistricting protests and clashes over religion in classrooms.

After opposing a Ten Commandments classroom bill, he wrote on X: “I told the author of the bill that it is not only unconstitutional and un-American, it is deeply un-Christian.”

Rogan and Colbert

Joe Rogan widened Talarico’s audience in 2025. During their podcast conversation, Rogan told him: “You need to run for president. We need someone who is actually a good person.”

Months later, according to The Guardian, Stephen Colbert said CBS blocked a planned television interview with Talarico. CBS denied a ban and said the matter involved legal guidance around federal equal-time rules.

The segment moved online, and the attention quickly turned into money. Talarico’s campaign said it raised $2.5 million in 24 hours after the controversy, Forbes reported.

Sources: TV 2, AP, The Texas Tribune, Texas Public Radio, Ballotpedia, USA Today, Forbes.

This article is made and published by Kenneth Glad, who may have used AI in the preparation