Beto O'Rourke lost Texas by 2.6 points in 2018 after running the most hyped Democrat Senate campaign in a generation.
Colin Allred tried again two years ago and lost by eight points – and that was after he actually ran ads saying he didn't support boys in girls' sports.
Now Texas Democrats have decided the answer to losing is a 36-year-old state legislator who went on the floor of the Texas House and declared that God is non-binary.
James Talarico Won the Texas Senate Democrat Primary — Here's His Record
James Talarico won Tuesday's Democrat Senate primary, beating sitting Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett despite polls showing her up double digits just two weeks before Election Day.
He's a Presbyterian seminarian who drives a Chevy pickup and wears cowboy boots.
He also told the Texas legislature in 2021 that "modern science obviously recognizes" there are six biological sexes – and compared keeping boys out of girls' sports to segregating Black athletes from professional leagues.
He appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast last July, where Rogan told him he ought to run for president.
https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/2029069346073358544?s=20
He was booked on Stephen Colbert's Late Show in February, but CBS lawyers blocked the interview from airing on broadcast television over FCC guidance from the Trump administration.
That "censorship" triggered a $2.5 million fundraising haul in 24 hours – and Crockett never recovered her polling lead.
Ken Paxton and John Cornyn Unload on Talarico After Primary Win
Paxton, fresh off advancing to the May Republican runoff against Sen. John Cornyn, didn't wait five minutes before previewing what November looks like.
"James Talarico is a far-left radical who wants to abolish ICE," Paxton told supporters Tuesday night in Dallas.
He also noted that Talarico says God is non-binary and "thinks Christians are commanded to put boys in girls' sports."
Cornyn was blunter, telling Fox News Digital on Sunday that Talarico is "way out of the mainstream in Texas."
The National Republican Senatorial Committee called Talarico an "open borders, Trump-hating radical" who has no business in the U.S. Senate.
Talarico's response to the God-is-non-binary clip has been to cite the Apostle Paul – not exactly the "I misspoke" cleanup Republicans were hoping for.
https://twitter.com/McBrideLawNYC/status/2029036238305431988?s=20
His answer is essentially that his theological reading supports the position, which is going to play great in Lubbock.
Texas Senate 2026: Why Republicans Cannot Assume This Race Is Safe
Democrats haven't won a Texas Senate seat since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 – the same election cycle where Bush beat Dukakis.
Trump carried Texas by nearly 14 points in 2024.
Talarico's argument is that he can flip persuadable voters because he already won a Trump-district state House seat in 2018.
That's a real data point – and it's the strongest thing he has going into November.
What he can't explain away is the video of him claiming six biological sexes is "obvious science," the God-is-non-binary speech, or his pledge to abolish ICE and ban corporate PACs.
Republicans actually wanted Crockett to win – internal party strategy held she was the more beatable candidate in November – which tells you something about how they're sizing up Talarico.
Here's what makes this race worth paying attention to despite the 14-point Trump margin.
Cornyn and Paxton are now grinding through a May 26 runoff that will cost both of them money and leave whichever one survives bloodied heading into November.
Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority and need to defend multiple seats across the country.
Cook Political Report rates the seat Likely Republican – but not Safe Republican.
https://twitter.com/RetardDecoder/status/2029018729577673062?s=20
Talarico outraised Cornyn himself during this primary cycle, and combined Democratic and Republican primary spending topped $125 million – the most expensive Senate primary season in the country.
The God-is-non-binary clip writes itself into a 30-second ad.
The abolish-ICE position writes itself into another one.
But a bruised Republican nominee coming out of a brutal Cornyn-Paxton runoff facing a well-funded opponent in a midterm year when the president's party historically loses seats?
Ken Paxton has been waiting for a Democrat this unelectable since Beto – and he just got one.
Sources:
- Paul Steinhauser and Alex Miller, "Rising star Talarico topples progressive firebrand Crockett in high-stakes Texas Senate Democratic primary," Fox News, March 4, 2026.
- "Obama Praises Texas Dem Who Said 'God Is Non-Binary,'" Washington Free Beacon, October 13, 2025.
- Jasmyn Jordan, "State Rep. James Talarico Topples Rep. Jasmine Crockett in Texas Democrat Senate Primary," Breitbart, March 3, 2026.
- "Talarico wins Democratic nomination for Texas Senate seat; Republicans set for runoff," NPR, March 4, 2026.
- "James Talarico wins Texas Democratic Senate primary as John Cornyn and Ken Paxton go to a GOP runoff," NBC News, March 4, 2026.