James Talarico, a 36-year-old Democratic state representative and former middle school teacher, announced Tuesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, entering a high-profile contest for the seat held by longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn.
Talarico positioned himself as a populist underdog, saying in a statement shared with Fox News that "the biggest divide in our country is not left vs right — it’s top vs bottom. Billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians have taken over our state and our country, rigging the system for themselves. I’m running for the U.S. Senate to bring people together and take power back for working Texans." He said his campaign will face "a lot of money" but expressed confidence in grassroots organizing.
Talarico becomes the second major Democrat to enter the race to replace Cornyn, who has represented Texas in the Senate for two decades. Former Rep. Colin Allred launched his campaign in July. Other Democrats who have declared or expressed interest include retired astronaut Terry Virts, and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke has not ruled out a bid.
Democrats have long sought to make Texas competitive in statewide contests, but the state has remained reliably Republican in recent national and statewide elections. Republicans point to Sen. Ted Cruz’s comfortable 2024 re-election and former President Donald Trump’s more than 13-point margin in Texas in 2024 as evidence of the GOP’s enduring strength.
Democratic strategists, however, say the party could have a path to flipping the seat in 2026 if Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose tenure has been marked by legal and ethical controversies, wins the Republican primary. Polling in recent GOP primary surveys shows Cornyn trailing Paxton, a favorite among the MAGA-aligned base, creating the possibility of a more vulnerable general-election Republican nominee.
Talarico has drawn national attention in recent months, in part because of a stream of viral social media appearances and national media interviews. He spent weeks this summer among dozens of Texas House Democrats who left the state to delay a GOP-led redistricting effort. Talarico has also spoken openly about his faith and how it informs his policy views; he is a Presbyterian seminarian.
He has cultivated a national following through TikTok videos that have attracted millions of views and through appearances on major podcasts, including Joe Rogan’s program, which boosted his profile. Rogan suggested during an interview that Talarico should consider higher office.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee moved quickly to target Talarico after his announcement, labeling him "an out-of-touch Harvard liberal" and pointing to his master’s degree. Republicans will likely highlight his national media profile as they seek to frame the general-election contest.
Talarico plans to formally kick off his campaign with a rally Tuesday evening in his hometown of Round Rock, north of Austin. His entry shifts the dynamics of an already closely watched race in a state that could again attract national attention in 2026.
Sen. Cornyn, who has served in the Senate since 2002, faces a potentially bruising Republican primary if Paxton secures widespread support from the party’s conservative base. Cornyn’s campaign and allies have not publicly signaled their preferred Democratic opponent; Republicans largely view Talarico’s candidacy as another opening to nationalize the contest.
The race is likely to draw substantial outside spending and interest from national party committees on both sides, especially if polling continues to show a competitive opening. For now, Democrats will weigh Talarico’s appeal as a young, media-savvy candidate against the enduring Republican advantage in statewide Texas politics as the primary calendar and general election approach.