AUSTIN — State Rep. James Talarico has won Texas’ bitterly fought Democratic primary for U.S. Senate after his opponent, U.S. Rep. Jamine Crockett, called him Wednesday morning to concede.
Both candidates are rising political stars who offer a glimmer of hope to Texas Democrats, who haven’t won a statewide seat in Texas since 1994. Their contest was among the most-watched this cycle because the winner is likely to challenge Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the general election — a candidate so tarred with scandal many observers think he’ll be kryptonite to mainstream voters.
The Talarico-Crockett battle has also received national attention because it could help flip the Senate to the Democrats, who see this election cycle as their last hope of checking the power of President Donald Trump, who’s so far received carte blanche from the GOP-controlled Congress.
“Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united, because that is bigger than any one person,” Crockett said in a statement acknowledging Talarico’s win. “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 Associated Press called the race for Talarico around 2 a.m. Wednesday. With the majority of the vote counted, the state rep was ahead 52.8%-45.9%.
The Colbert effect
A former English teacher at San Antonio’s Rhodes Middle School and a Presbyterian seminarian, Talarico grabbed national media attention after the Trump-controlled FCC pulled his interview from Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show, citing rules regulating equal airtime for candidates.
A YouTube clip of the interview went viral, helping generate more than $2 million for Talarico’s underdog campaign in the following weeks.
During his victory speech, Talarico created his win to increased turnout from young and first-time voters along with Republicans and Independents casting ballots in the Democratic primary. He said the change is proof Texans are willing to push back at the agenda of billionaire donors.
“Tonight the people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope,” Talarico said. “And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.”
In November’s election, Talarico will face the winner of the May Senate runoff between Paxton and incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
The race has already set the record as the most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history. It’s likely to become even pricier as the GOP tries to defend a seat once seen as safe.
Voting mayhem
Crockett’s concession followed a statement earlier in the night that her team was ready to litigate the results. She voiced concern about the count after a district judge filed a motion to keep the polling stations in Dallas County open until 9 p.m. over reports of voter confusion there.
The Texas Supreme Court later tried to block those votes from counting, ordering Dallas County — Crockett’s home turf — to separate any ballots cast by people who joined the line after 7 p.m. As of press time, it’s unclear whether the Dallas County votes will count.
Similar problems were reported in Williamson County, which Talarico represents in the House. Despite calls from Talarico to extend voting, polls there closed at 7 p.m.
“Every vote must be counted, every voice must be heard,” Talarico told supporters at his watch party at Emo’s in Austin. “The voter suppression in my home county and in Congresswoman Crockett’s home county underscores the gravity of this moment.”
Last year, the Dallas County and Williamson County Republicans opted to have their own primary instead of a joint one with Democrats, meaning voters of both parties would have to cast ballots in their designated precincts rather than countywide voting centers.
Despite the AP reporting that the Dallas County Elections department put up signs, ran ads and sent text messages and mailers alerting voters to the change, many still showed up to the wrong polling sites.
“I can tell you, people were disenfranchised,” Crockett told supporters.
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