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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett said Texas is "primed to turn blue" in a message of unity after she lost a hard-fought Senate primary to state Representative James Talarico.
Talarico claimed the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination after winning 73 percent of the vote, compared to Crockett's 46 percent, after 91 percent of the vote was counted, according to the Associated Press, which called the race at 2:37 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
Crockett, a Democrat who represents a Dallas-area congressional district, acknowledged the result Wednesday morning in a public statement posted on X.
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"This morning I called James and congratulated him on becoming the Senate nominee," she wrote.
"Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. 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. I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot."
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Why It Matters
The Texas Democratic primary marked one of the first major contests of the 2026 midterm cycle and tested competing strategies for how Democrats might finally break a decades-long losing streak statewide.
The outcome now shapes the party’s approach as it prepares for a general election against a Republican nominee still to be decided.
What To Know
Talarico won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas on Tuesday night, defeating Crockett in a closely watched primary that drew national attention and record spending.
The primary pitted two nationally visible Democrats against each other in what became one of the most expensive Senate nomination fights in state history.
Public polling in the final weeks showed a volatile race, with different surveys alternately putting each candidate ahead.
Talarico, a state lawmaker from the Austin area, built his campaign around broad voter outreach and a message focused on economic fairness and coalition-building. Crockett, first elected to Congress in 2022, emphasized her confrontational style in Washington and her profile as a vocal critic of Republicans.
The Republican contest has moved to a runoff between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a prolonged fight Democrats hope could drain resources and deepen GOP divisions ahead of the general election.
Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate race in Texas since the late 1980s, making the general election an uphill battle regardless of the nominee. Still, party leaders have pointed to demographic changes and internal Republican divisions as reasons for renewed optimism.
But a Republican source told Newsweek that the Democrats "do not have a valid path" to flipping the Senate in November, only a "Hail Mary shot."
What People Are Saying
Talarico told supporters in a speech ahead of his victory being confirmed late Tuesday: "Tonight our campaign is shocking the nation. We are still waiting for an official call, but we are confident in this movement we've built together. Every vote must be counted. Every voice must be heard."
**Republican National Committee spokesperson Zach Kraft told Newsweek: "**James Talarico is a woke nutjob. Texas will not break its 32-year Republican streak to elect a man obsessed with telling the world that 'God is nonbinary' and that there are six genders."
What Happens Next
Talarico will face the winner of the Republican primary in the general election on November 3, 2026.
Democrats are likely to spend the coming months working to unify factions that backed different candidates in the primary while testing messages aimed at persuading independents and moderate Republicans.
Crockett’s pledge to remain active in the campaign signals an effort to present a united front as the general election approaches.
Update 03/04/26, 10:07 a.m. ET. This article was updated with additional information.
Update 03/04/26, 11:22 a.m. ET. This article was updated with a new RNC statement.
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