Something is changing in the southern United States. James Talarico, a young local legislator and Presbyterian seminarian, has established himself as the new “star” of the Democratic Party after a resounding victory in the primaries. James Talarico wins Texas primary.
The secret ingredient? The Latino vote, which after flirting dangerously with Republicanism in 2025, seems to be coming home.
The return to the “Valley
State Rep. James Talarico will win the Democratic nomination in the Texas Senate primary, CNN projects, defeating US Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Follow live updates. https://t.co/kdu0dU3F6K pic.twitter.com/8lcl5grHug
– CNN (@CNN) March 4, 2026
The data doesn’t lie: in the Rio Grande Valley, a border region where 55% of Latinos voted for Donald Trump just last year, Talarico managed to surpass 60% of the support.
In Hispanic-majority counties, the Democratic candidate took a 22-point lead, a figure not seen in decades for the “blue party”.
The strategy, according to his advisor Chuck Rocha, was simple but forgotten by many: invest in Spanish-language advertising and be present on the streets, not just in television commercials.
“Latinos will come back (to the Democratic Party) if you step forward and give them a message of hope,” Rocha said in a video posted on social networks early Wednesday morning after learning the results.
Neither left nor right: “Those at the top vs. those at the bottom”
James Talarico’s message of religious faith and economic populism resonated with Hispanic voters in Texas. 🔗 https://t.co/91QbatvmWt pic.twitter.com/7mSux1dcqr
– The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 4, 2026
Talarico has managed to connect with a base that was “fed up” with extreme polarization.
His message mixes faith with social justice, focusing his discourse on economic inequality.
“This is not a fight of the left versus the right, but of those at the top versus those at the bottom,” Talarico has repeated at his rallies, managing to attract even voters who do not identify as traditional Democrats.
In the last presidential election, a portion of Hispanics in Texas turned their backs on the Democratic Party, especially in regions historically controlled by the blue party, such as the southern part of the state.
Fifty-five percent of Latinos in the state Texas voted for Trump in 2025, up from 30 percent in 2016.
November’s historic challenge
Donald Trump freaks out over James Talarico in new post: “We have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!” pic.twitter.com/dw8itBUoln
– Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) March 4, 2026
Although the victory in the primaries is an oxygen tank for the opposition, the real test comes in November.
James Talarico is seeking to wrest a Texas Senate seat that Democrats have not won since 1994.
Meanwhile, the Republican camp is still in an internal war: incumbent Senator John Cornyn and controversial Attorney General Ken Paxton will go to a runoff in May to decide who will take on the “Talarico phenomenon.”
Kamala Harris endorses James Talarico
Kamala Harris Endorses James Talarico for Texas Senate
“I congratulate James Talarico for his win, and the inspiring campaign he continues to build. I appreciate that he is making the case for the kind of civic renewal our country needs.” pic.twitter.com/jGXvL2cvlk
– InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 4, 2026
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (2021-2025) on Wednesday endorsed James Talarico, who will be the Democratic Senate candidate for Texas in the November elections.
“Our party is motivated like never before and we have the opportunity to accomplish something historic this fall,” Harris said in a statement after Talarico clinched the Democratic nomination Tuesday by defeating Jasmine Crockett in the primary.
In this race, Harris had endorsed Crockett, an African-American congresswoman and fervent opponent of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
In the statement, the former vice president says Crockett has a “bright future” and that she “waged a campaign with that characteristic ferocity that has defined her career.”
Texas, along with North Carolina and Arkansas, was on Tuesday one of the first states to hold primaries heading into the Nov. 3 congressional elections, in which Trump is seeking to maintain a majority in the House and Senate to push his agenda and avoid, he has said, impeachment by Democrats.
Filed under: James Talarico wins Texas primary
