As polls began to close across Texas on Tuesday night, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and state Representative James Talarico were locked in an unpredictable and fiercely contested primary that has drawn record turnout and enormous national attention.
The important Senate race, taking place in a state that Democrats have not won statewide in more than three decades, has become an early test of the competing political playbooks to challenge Republican dominance and Donald Trump. In recent weeks, the race has raised tense questions about race, identity and electability for a party seeking a path back to power in Washington.
Crockett, the 44-year-old former public defender who has earned a reputation as a rhetorical fighter, promises to energize the party’s base, turning out young people and voters of color furious with the president and desperate for their leaders to take a more confrontational approach. Talarico, a former high school teacher and current seminary student, is pitching a “top-versus-bottom” economic message that he says can transcend political divisions.
The stakes are high because of a complicated Republican primary in which scandal-scarred state Attorney General Ken Paxton could emerge as the nominee, giving Democrats a rare opportunity to seriously contest the seat.
Polls have diverged widely in recent weeks. Although Crockett enjoyed a comfortable early lead, buoyed by his high name recognition, more recent polls have found a much closer race.
Talarico has performed well among self-described liberals, while Crockett has fared better among moderates and some conservative Democrats, contrary to the impression among some in the party that she is the most progressive candidate in the race.
Crockett, who recently received an endorsement from Kamala Harris, has built overwhelming support among black Democrats, while Talarico has consistently led among white liberals. Observers say Latino voters, who are expected to make up between a quarter and a third of the electorate, will likely determine the outcome of the election.
Texas Democrats have hailed both candidates as rising stars who can help knock the entire field of candidates off the ballot. Beto O’Rourke, a Democrat who narrowly lost to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018, did not endorse either candidate but called them “generational talents.”
“Just look,” said Montserrat Garibay, a Democratic candidate for the state legislature, pointing to the long line of students waiting to vote on the University of Texas at Austin campus Tuesday afternoon.
“When you have quality candidates, you attract people, and that’s exactly what they’re doing. Whatever the outcome, they’re both great and will do great things for our state.”
Anusha Adusumilli, a 19-year-old public health student, said she planned to vote for Talarico because she thought he was “a little more progressive” and liked his promise not to accept corporate money from the Pac.
“I hear a lot of people say they think Texas will turn blue this year,” he said. “I’m not completely sure about that considering our history, but I think there are more possibilities than in previous years, so I’m very excited.”
Julia Berliner, a 27-year-old ecology doctoral student, struggled with what she described as the critical question of “what works in Texas.”
“I don’t want to betray any chance of changing Texas,” she said, still undecided as she stood in line to vote. In the end, he went with his heart and voted for Crockett: “the candidate I’m excited about (and) would be proud to have represent me.”
Texas voters, like voters across the country, are angry at Trump for his handling of the economy and immigration.
“Things have gotten bad,” said Raquel Rivas, 53, a janitor who took a second full-time job to support her undocumented husband, who no longer feels safe working the jobs he used to do. She is also helping to support her four adult children who struggle to afford food and pay their electricity bills.
“We are suffering,” he said.
On Tuesday he voted for Crockett: “She talks.”
The Democratic enthusiasm comes as Republicans wage an increasingly ugly — and costly — primary battle pitting Paxton against four-term Senate incumbent John Cornyn in a multi-party race that is likely to lead to a runoff.
Democrats and Republicans in Washington have argued that if Paxton emerges as the nominee, his series of legal and ethical problems would give Democrats a chance in a state the president won by a landslide of 14 percentage points in 2024.
