Crockett Backed Candidate Wins As Texas Democrats Look Toward November
The Texas U.S. Senate primary between U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico may be over, but a recent U.S. House primary placed the two former rivals on opposite sides of another political contest.
On Tuesday, voters in Texas’ 32nd Congressional District elected Colin Allred as the Democratic nominee over incumbent U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson. Allred was endorsed by Crockett, while Johnson was endorsed by Talarico.
The result gave Crockett a political win after her preferred candidate prevailed in a race shaped by existing relationships, redistricting and ongoing Democratic tensions in Texas.
Crockett celebrated the victories of her endorsed candidates through her political fundraising arm, FIRE PAC.
“This moment demands grit, clarity, and leaders who are Texas tough. That’s what Texans chose on Tuesday night as we voted to send Rep. Colin Allred and Rep. Christian Menefee back to Congress. I’m proud to have served with them both and know their character. I know they will fight to end wars forever, deliver healthcare, and lower prices,” Crockett said.
Crockett is set to leave Congress on Jan. 3, 2027, after losing her U.S. Senate bid to Talarico in March and not seeking reelection to the U.S. House.
Primary Tensions Remain Unresolved
The House race placed new attention on Crockett and Talarico’s political rivalry, which became tense early in the U.S. Senate primary. During that race, Talarico, who is white, was accused of calling Allred a “mediocre Black man,” an allegation he strongly denied.
Allred had originally been running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate against Talarico before leaving the race after Crockett entered.
Crockett previously addressed the controversy, telling theGrio, “I think that it is a real fear that a lot of, not just Black people, but minorities have about how they may get talked about behind closed doors.”
Talarico and Crockett have not publicly resolved their political differences from the primary, even as Talarico has worked to reach Crockett’s base of Black supporters.
Strategists Say The House Race Was Also About Relationships
Democratic strategist Jamarr Brown, a former executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, said the Allred and Johnson race should not be viewed only as another proxy fight between Crockett and Talarico.
“Some of the things that happened between Representative Talarico and Congressman Allred, I think, showed some of the divisions, but I don’t think this race was one of the key deciding pieces of that division,” Brown told theGrio.
Brown noted that Allred and Crockett served together in Congress as part of the Dallas and North Texas delegation, while Johnson and Talarico had a longstanding relationship from their time in the Texas House.
“It’s a lot of standing political relationships that just came to the head in a race that actually was forced by the mid-decade redistricting,” Brown said.
Black Voters Remain Central To Talarico’s Senate Path
Texas Democrats are now focused on whether Talarico can defeat Trump backed Republican nominee Ken Paxton in the general election. If successful, Talarico would become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas in more than 30 years.
Zoe Cadore, a Houston political consultant and former candidate for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, said Democrats must keep their attention on the larger goal of November.
“If our goal is to flip Texas, the only thing we need to be focused on right now is galvanizing as many voters as possible to come out for him in November,” Cadore told theGrio.
Cadore said some Black voters in Texas remain critical or skeptical of Talarico because of the Senate primary, but warned Democrats cannot lose sight of the general election.
“We’re going to miss the big picture, which is getting him over the finish line in November,” Cadore said.
After conceding to Talarico, Crockett called on voters to remain united and said Texas was “primed to turn blue.”
“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,” Crockett said in a campaign statement.
Also Read:Congressional Black Caucus Presses Companies To Oppose GOP Redistricting Push
Crockett’s Endorsement Could Still Matter
Cadore said she also understands the frustration among Black Texans, especially Black women, who feel the Democratic Party continues to rely on them without placing them in enough leadership positions.
“We are constantly bending over backward. We are the backbone of this party. We have a significant building block, and yet we are not seeing ourselves pop up in leadership positions,” Cadore said.
Brown said Talarico cannot win statewide in Texas without Black voters. Crockett remains popular among many Black Texans, but unlike in Allred’s House race, she has not endorsed Talarico.
“I think it’s important for Representative Talarico to demonstrate leadership as a Democratic nominee, and seek her endorsement, seek her support, and seek the support of members of the party, members of the electorate that voted for Congresswoman Crockett,” Brown told theGrio.
Brown said Black voters need to “know that they have a home…and they have a candidate that is going to listen to them.”
Since winning the nomination, Talarico has worked to build support among Black voters in Texas. He has campaigned with former President Barack Obama, delivered a commencement address at a Texas HBCU and released a plan focused on addressing Black maternal mortality.
“There’s still work to do to close the gap, because diverse communities in Texas need to feel that he’s going to go in there and actually fight and use every tool possible to ensure that people are protected, people are safe, and people can thrive,” Brown said. “Whether that is working on affordability, or working on health care, or working against ICE detentions.”
Brown added, “I do believe there will be some people who would move in his direction, but I think that comes with political courting, I think that comes with engagement.”
