Texas Senate Race Tests Democratic Path Through Black and Hispanic Voters as Talarico Challenges Paxton
Democrat James Talarico is running against Republican Ken Paxton in a Texas U.S. Senate race that could determine whether a Democrat wins statewide in Texas for the first time in more than 30 years. Black and Hispanic voter turnout is widely described as central to Talarico's path to victory. Former President Barack Obama appeared with Talarico at a May campaign stop in Austin.
Single source · Not corroborated
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, is working to build a coalition of Black, Hispanic, and younger voters as he seeks to unseat Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a November 3 election. Texas has more Black eligible voters than any other state, with roughly 2.7 million, concentrated in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and East Texas — a bloc that observers described as potentially decisive in any statewide Democratic bid.
Fox News Digital reported from the Texas State Fair in Dallas on September 29, where several voters described the race in terms of historic opportunity and personal motivation. Mike, a military veteran from Dallas, said Black and Brown voter turnout would be the deciding factor. "He's got all the momentum in the world. He's got everything going for him," Mike said, while noting the outcome would depend on whether those voters choose to show up.
Talarico faces a complication stemming from his Democratic primary, in which he defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Crockett has said she supports the Democratic ticket in Texas, but her political action committee has not endorsed Talarico or campaigned for him. Rashaun, a voter from Forney, Texas, said the primary result left some Black voters frustrated: "Everyone was behind Jasmine. So that's what's blocking, I'm going to say for my people, that was blocking their minds." Rashaun added she still plans to vote for Talarico.