U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett and State Representative James Talarico are preparing to engage in their first, and possibly only, debate in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate on Saturday. This event will provide voters with a crucial opportunity to compare the candidates’ differing approaches and proposals in advance of the March 3 election.
The debate is scheduled for one hour at the Texas AFL-CIO’s political convention in Georgetown and will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. on various Nexstar Media Group platforms, including local websites and smart TV apps like KXAN in Austin and CW33 in Dallas.
Early voting kicks off on February 17, which is just over three weeks prior to this debate. Both candidates are vying for their party’s nomination to challenge the Republican nominee in November. Democrats are optimistic that potential backlash against the Trump administration and a weakened GOP candidate resulting from a contentious primary could pave the way for the party’s first statewide win in 30 years. Current U.S. Senator John Cornyn faces a tough primary fight against Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt from Houston.
Crockett, who represents Dallas, has branded herself as a political fighter intent on broadening the electorate by energizing Democratic turnout and motivating infrequent voters. Conversely, Talarico, hailing from Austin, promotes his Christian faith and a bottom-up economic populism that he believes can resonate with disenchanted Republican and independent voters while still energizing the Democratic base.
Recent polling from Emerson College indicates Talarico leading Crockett by nine percentage points, mainly due to his appeal among white and Latino voters. In response, Crockett released her own internal survey showing her ahead by 13 points. Talarico is actively seeking to boost his support among Latino communities, having aired a Spanish-language TV ad this week across several major Texas media markets. Additionally, he recently campaigned in the heavily Latino Rio Grande Valley alongside Tejano music star Bobby Pulido, where both candidates publicly endorsed each other.
Crockett has faced scrutiny over controversial comments she made last year in a Vanity Fair interview, where she likened some Latino Texans’ anti-immigrant attitudes to a “slave mentality.” Addressing these remarks at a recent Texas Tribune event, she stated, “there was never an intent to actually offend somebody,” and reaffirmed her long-standing commitment to advocate for all communities.
Crockett enjoys substantial backing from Black voters, a key demographic in the Democratic primary. Recent polling shows 80% of Black voters plan to support her, consistent with a December survey that revealed 89% of Black voters favoring her campaign. Many of these voters are still unfamiliar with Talarico.
While Crockett has gained recognition through viral moments in Congress, particularly for her confrontations with Republican lawmakers and her criticism of former President Trump, Talarico is also building momentum. His appearances on platforms such as Joe Rogan’s podcast and viral clips from Texas House debates regarding education and the role of religion in public life have helped amplify his profile.
Talarico’s progressive interpretation of his Christian values has faced backlash from conservative circles after he stated on Ezra Klein’s podcast that he believes Christianity and other “religions of love” lead to the same truth.
As the candidates prepare for the upcoming debate, the contrast in their strategies and messaging will undoubtedly play a critical role in shaping voter sentiment in these final weeks leading to the primary.