To help primary voters differentiate between the two, we asked Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico where they fall on major issues, ranging from international policy to taxes. See where they stand, and how they differ.
by Kayla Guo and Gabby Birenbaum
Jasmine Crockett, left, and James Talarico, Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate. U.S. House of Representatives, The Texas Tribune
In a rare opportunity for Texas Democrats, this year’s primary for U.S. Senate features a highly competitive race between two rising stars with national audiences and strong fundraising abilities.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas is facing off against her former legislative colleague, state Rep. James Talarico of Austin, to be the party’s 2026 standard-bearer atop the ticket. The winner will face off against the prevailing Republican this November in what’s expected to be an uphill battle, given that no Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994.
The stakes are high.
The U.S. Senate is currently made up of 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, with Republican Vice President JD Vance able to cast tiebreaking votes. Turning Texas’ seat blue would be a major victory for Democrats that would simplify their difficult path to 51 seats and reestablish them as a viable opposition party in Texas, where Republicans have prevailed by wide margins in recent statewide elections.
U.S. senators are elected to six-year terms in Congress’ 100-member upper chamber. They vote on critical federal legislation, from annual spending bills to military policy to ratifying treaties. Presidential Cabinet and judicial appointments must be confirmed by the Senate.
To help primary voters distinguish between Crockett and Talarico, we asked the candidates to share their views on a variety of issues ranging from immigration and energy to taxes and artificial intelligence. See where they stand, and how they differ.
This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.
