From Houston Public Media:
State Rep. James Talarico, a 36-year-old candidate for U.S. Senate, is embracing the “wilderness” state of the Democratic Party.
“I think we’re leaderless right now, and that may feel a little scary to some Democrats, but I actually think it’s an opportunity,” he told Houston Public Media. “Everyone’s saying the Democratic Party’s in the wilderness. That’s certainly true, but the wilderness is a place where new leaders, new ideas, new movements can come forth.”
Talarico, who held campaign rallies on Friday in Fort Bend County and on Saturday in Houston, is one of those new leaders in his party. His visibility has been on the rise in recent months after a steady stream of viral moments on the Texas House floor, an appearance on Joe Rogan’s top-rated podcast and his role in the Democratic quorum break to raise awareness of Texas Republicans’ move to redistrict mid-decade at the request of President Donald Trump.
Officially launching his Senate bid last Tuesday, Talarico had been mulling the idea over for months. He’s entering an increasingly crowded Democratic primary and will have to run against former Congressman and former NFL linebacker Colin Allred.
Talarico told Houston Public Media he and Allred discussed his potential run.
“I talked to Colin at the beginning of the summer and told him my interest in this race before he got into it and told him it was nothing against him,” he said. “I have great respect and love for Colin Allred – I campaigned vigorously for him last time – but I feel like I’ve got some skills and some experiences to really speak to this moment, and I feel the need to do this for our state and our country.”
In an interview with CBS, Allred said he welcomes “anybody into the race.”
Democrats have an uphill battle to win the seat long held by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican who is facing a primary challenge from the right in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Texas hasn’t sent a Democrat to the Senate in more than 30 years.
In 2018, Democrat Beto O’Rourke came within 3 percentage points of winning against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, but in the next cycle Democratic candidate MJ Hegar lost to Cornyn by nearly 10 points. In 2024, Allred suffered a similar loss, losing Cruz by more than 8 points.
In that same cycle, Allred maintained a strong lead in the Democratic primary, allowing him a more seamless transition into the general election.
Talarico was asked if Texas Democrats can afford to spend time in a competitive primary and should be more focused on the general election next November.
“No, if this primary is positive, if it’s productive, it can actually make us stronger,” Talarico said. “I plan on running a positive campaign focused on my values and my vision and strengthening us as a team.”
When asked about the lessons from Allred’s 2024 loss, Talarico spoke candidly about how Democrats need a new approach.
“I think we have to show up everywhere,” Talarico said. “We have to run an aggressive, authentic, unorthodox campaign. The old strategies aren’t going to work in Texas. We have to run a race that’s surprising, that is exciting and that can energize people who don’t typically show up in a midterm.”
To do that, Talarico said he won’t be waiting on the national Democratic Party, adding Texans are going to be the ones who save themselves.
“If the national Democratic Party wants to help, that’s great, but we’re not taking instructions or orders from them,” he said. “We’re doing this the Texas way.”
Supporters of state Rep. James Talarico’s bid for U.S. Senate hold up signs during a campaign rally in Houston on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
Bianca Seward / Houston Public Media
Voters chime in
A few hundred supporters rallied on Saturday in Greenspoint to cheer on Talarico.
Cameron Rollwitz and his wife, Sarah, drove more than an hour to make the event. Rollwitz said Talarico understands Texas and would avoid mistakes previous candidates have made, pointing to O’Rourke’s infamous promise to take away guns during his short-lived run for president in 2020.
“He seems to understand Texas and Texas politics and isn’t trying to force a Democratic platform that doesn’t necessarily fit what majority of Texans would want right, left or right,” Rollwitz said of Talarico.
The Austin-area representative is wildly popular online, with millions of followers across his various social channels. That’s how Talarico first caught Connie Hamilton’s eye.
“I’ve been following James Talarico on Facebook and was so impressed with him that I hope that one day we’ll see him as a presidential candidate,” Hamilton said. “Maybe this will be his first step towards that.”
Hamilton said she likes the way Talarico talks about his faith on the trail. He is a seminary school student.
“He knows the Bible, and he can stand there and quote biblical truth to people when they want to twist the Bible around,” Hamilton said. “He respects other people’s faith and he respects other people not having faith. He puts the Constitution and everybody’s rights before he puts his religion.”
Hamilton also likes that Talarico is a fresh face in the race.
“I’m Talarico all the way,” she said. “I think Colin Allred is great, but he’s already had his shot and lost and I don’t think that once someone’s lost an election they suddenly have a comeback and win.”
For others, the choice between Allred and Talarico isn’t so simple. Dale Burris likes both candidates and is wishing she could vote for both.
“I’d like Talarico to be governor and Allred to be senator,” Burris said. “That would be my preference.”
For now, she said she just hopes the losing candidate will throw their weight behind the Democrats’ nominee for the 2026 general election.
The primary is scheduled for March 3.
