In Texas, Democrats have tried all of it. They’ve raised piles of cash, grabbed nationwide headlines, and made their case in each one of many state’s 254 counties. And election after election, they’ve come up empty.
This time, state Rep. James Talarico is taking a unique swing. The younger Democratic lawmaker and Presbyterian seminarian isn’t shying away from what units him aside—he’s speaking overtly about his religion and the way it drives his politics. It’s a wager {that a} new sort of pitch may lastly crack a decades-long shedding streak.
Final month, Talarico jumped into the race for the seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn, becoming a member of a main that features former Texas Rep. Colin Allred, who misplaced to Sen. Ted Cruz in final yr’s election. At 36, Talarico, a former trainer, insists he can do what no Democrat has executed in additional than three a long time: win statewide in Texas.
He faces a climb for the nomination, although. Many polls have Allred forward, however Talarico has indicators of momentum. A September survey from Public Coverage Polling discovered that amongst voters with favorable views of each males, Talarico led by 50 share factors.
Former Rep. Colin Allred of Texas, proven in 2019.
Fundraising tells a narrative too: He pulled in $6.2 million in his first three weeks—blowing previous Allred’s $4.1 million haul over three months.
Talarico made his title in 2018, when he flipped a state Home seat outdoors Austin. He walked the size of his district in a single day, held three city halls alongside the best way, and livestreamed the entire thing. That scrappy, in-the-trenches method is how he says Democrats can win statewide.
Talarico, who’s amassed greater than 1.4 million followers on TikTok, says his marketing campaign will mix grassroots organizing with digital attain.
“This thing is just getting started,” he informed Each day Kos from Victoria, Texas, en path to the Rio Grande Valley for marketing campaign stops. “We’ll be using our social media platforms, but we’ll also be on traditional media and meeting people in every corner of the state. We’re going to leave no stone unturned.”
No Democrat has cracked the code in Texas in additional than 30 years. Talarico is betting religion, grit, and a relentless floor recreation can change that.
This interview has been evenly edited for size and readability.
Each day Kos: Polls present former Texas Rep. Colin Allred is extra well-known than you, as a result of he has run statewide earlier than. What do you inform voters who wish to know the important thing coverage variations between you two?
James Talarico: I’m undoubtedly the outsider on this race. I’ve stated earlier than that I take into account myself the underdog, each within the main and within the normal election, and that’s why I’m barnstorming throughout the state. I’m going to each a part of the state, introducing myself to people, and making an attempt to earn their belief and assist.
I’m sharing my file within the state Home, the place I fought to decrease the prices of prescribed drugs, housing, and little one care—all points I plan to champion if I’m elected as the subsequent U.S. senator.
I’m not very aware of all of Colin’s coverage positions, however I do like him loads. I take into account him a buddy and have campaigned with him. On this race, I’m placing ahead my values, my imaginative and prescient, my experiences, and why I imagine I’m fitted to this second. I’m operating a optimistic race within the main—not towards Colin, however for myself and the folks of the state.
DK: Do you suppose it’s a unique kind of power you’re bringing to the race that you simply imagine is important for Democrats to lastly flip a statewide seat in Texas?
Talarico: I hope we’re bringing a number of power to this race as a result of we desperately want it in our politics proper now. We additionally want a bit of little bit of hope. I really feel like individuals are simply actually feeling overwhelmed down on this present setting. It’s scary, darkish occasions.
What we’re making an attempt to supply folks is just a bit little bit of positivity and optimism about what we will do collectively. I believe it’s, hopefully, refreshing for folks to get a glimpse of a unique sort of politics from what we’ve all been struggling beneath for the final 10 years.
“If you want a leader who can be both tough and compassionate, you should hire a middle school teacher,” Talarico informed Each day Kos.
DK: You gained nationwide approval for showing on Joe Rogan’s podcast. How do you steadiness your progressivism with listening to “the other side”?
Talarico: That’s what I’ve needed to do within the state legislature. I have to work throughout the aisle at any time when potential, to get issues executed for the folks of the state. I’ve handed main payments with my Republican colleagues within the legislature on well being care, training, housing, and little one care. However I’ve additionally needed to stand as much as my Republican colleagues once they’re making an attempt to harm the folks of the state.
I’m the sort of chief who can each take a stand and get issues executed. I’ve joked on the stump that if you need a pacesetter who could be each powerful and compassionate, it’s best to rent a center college trainer. That’s precisely what I did within the classroom. It’s what I’ve executed within the legislature, and it’s precisely what I might do if I’m elected to the U.S. Senate.
DK: Trendy Democrats battle to attraction to many Christian voters. In accordance with The Pew Analysis Middle, two-thirds of Texan adults establish as Christian. How are you going to win these voters again from Republicans?
Talarico: We misplaced [former President] Jimmy Carter on the finish of final yr, and he was maybe the final Democratic nationwide determine who overtly and sometimes spoke about his religion. We have to make house in our social gathering for folks of religion and, particularly, for Christians. Religion is central in my life. It’s why I selected to pursue public service. Subsequently, I’ll converse overtly about it and received’t be ashamed to take action on the marketing campaign path.
On the identical time, I wish to be certain that folks of assorted faiths—Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, in addition to atheists, agnostics, and Buddhists—really feel welcome on this marketing campaign. I hope my religion can function a bridge somewhat than a barrier. That’s the aim of this marketing campaign.
DK: Trump says he’s a nondenominational Christian. How does your religion differ from the expressions of religion put forth by Trump and people round him?
Talarico: I don’t know his private non secular beliefs or practices, however I imagine there’s one problem that troubles many Christian voters, particularly evangelical voters. That’s how the president has dealt with undocumented individuals who have been a part of our communities for many years.
All of us need a safe border and a smart immigration system. Nonetheless, most individuals additionally wish to respect group members who’ve been right here a very long time, constructed companies, and contributed to our neighborhoods. There’s a sturdy custom inside Christianity, particularly amongst American evangelicals, of welcoming strangers—most likely the commonest commandment in our religion and scriptures.
Many evangelicals, together with conservatives, do vital work on the border and mission work in Latin America. I imagine they’re deeply troubled by how this administration has handled the stranger. It’s potential to have a safe border whereas respecting the dignity of all human beings, significantly those that have been within the nation for a very long time.
If I’m elected, I hope to discover a center floor on this problem—pushing for immigration reform and border safety whereas nonetheless respecting and welcoming those that are right here.
DK: Particularly, what adjustments would you prefer to see made concerning immigration and border safety?
Talarico: Properly, I’ve typically stated that the border must be like our entrance porch. We should always have an enormous welcome mat and a lock on the door. Once more, we’ve been informed that these are mutually unique coverage targets, and I reject that false binary. You are able to do each.
You’ll be able to have an immigration system with sufficient immigration judges and a reformed asylum course of, the place we welcome those that wish to come right here and contribute, these searching for to dwell their American dream, whereas additionally making certain public security. If there are people who want to do us hurt or commit violent crimes, then these folks must be stored overseas. And if they’re right here, they need to be deported instantly. These are targets that almost all Texans—and most People—share, and I’ll pursue each if I’m elected to this place.
“As Texas Democrats, we are in the minority, but we still utilized every tool at our disposal, including a quorum break, which drew national attention to the issue and motivated the country to respond,” Talarico informed Each day Kos.
DK: You’ve talked about in previous interviews that the Democratic Get together “has forgotten how to fight.” What does preventing appear like to you, particularly if Democrats stay within the Senate minority?
Talarico: You have to be prepared to make use of each software out there. That’s what my colleagues and I did within the legislature over the summer season when the Republican majority tried to redraw our political maps in the course of the last decade to keep away from accountability on the poll field subsequent yr. As Texas Democrats, we’re within the minority, however we nonetheless utilized each software at our disposal, together with a quorum break, which drew nationwide consideration to the problem and motivated the nation to reply. That’s the sort of preventing spirit I might carry to the Senate. I might hold all choices open, struggle to the fullest extent allowed by the principles, and stand as much as bullies once they threaten to hurt Texas.
The instruments will differ relying on the workplace. Naturally, I mastered the principles as a state consultant. I’ll do the identical if I get elected to the Senate. A few of these guidelines could be fairly obscure. For instance, a quorum break isn’t a software that’s used typically within the legislature, and comparable legal guidelines exist within the Senate. I imagine folks can depend on me to make the most of each out there tactic to struggle for them, for the Structure, and for the nation.
DK: Why do you suppose 2026 shall be completely different for Democrats in Texas, the place the social gathering hasn’t received a statewide election for the reason that ’90s?
Talarico: There’s growing backlash throughout the state and nation towards the extremism seen at each the nationwide and state ranges. Texans have been dwelling beneath one-party rule for a number of a long time now, and in 2026, that may lengthen from the state Home all the best way to the White Home. I imagine there’s a need for a test on that energy as a result of one-party rule—whether or not by Democrats or Republicans—tends to result in extremism and corruption, and this has undoubtedly been true beneath the present one-party dominance.
My social gathering typically talks about turning Texas blue. Republicans deal with holding Texas purple. Actually, I believe one of the best coloration for Texas is purple. I imagine she would look nice in purple as a result of that sort of competitors makes everybody—politicians included—work more durable for each vote. It forces them to remain alert and develop insurance policies that genuinely profit folks, somewhat than simply doing the bidding of billionaire megadonors or extremists inside their events.
Competitors is an efficient factor in enterprise, sports activities, and politics. I hope we will have a aggressive statewide election in 2026 and break this one-party rule, lastly holding elected officers accountable.
