Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a young Democrat with a fast-rising national profile, officially entered the 2026 Senate race on Tuesday — a contest already shaping up to be one of the most
watched in the country.
Talarico, 36, isn’t your typical politician. Before entering politics, he was a middle school teacher and later studied at a Presbyterian seminary. Now, he’s pitching himself as a new kind of candidate: someone willing to take on big money and political insiders on both sides.
“The biggest divide in our country isn’t left versus right — it’s top versus bottom,” Talarico said in his campaign launch. “Billionaire donors and their politicians have taken over our state. I’m running to put power back in the hands of working Texans.”
Talarico knows he’s an underdog. “We’re going up against the political establishment and a lot of money,” he said. “Big money is powerful, but it’s nothing compared to people power.”
A Crowded Democratic Field
Talarico is the second major Democrat to jump into the race, following former congressman Colin Allred, who narrowly lost to Sen. Ted Cruz last cycle. Former astronaut Terry Virts is also in, and Beto O’Rourke — who nearly toppled Cruz in 2018 — hasn’t ruled out another run.
The winner will likely face either Sen. John Cornyn, a longtime Republican fixture in Washington, or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who’s trying to unseat Cornyn in a GOP primary. Recent polls show Cornyn trailing Paxton, who has the loyalty of Donald Trump’s base despite years of legal troubles.
Democrats believe their chances of flipping the seat improve dramatically if Paxton knocks off Cornyn. Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat statewide in decades, but they see this race as one of their best opportunities yet.
Building a Following Beyond Texas
Talarico has already carved out a national presence. His sharp social media clips have gone viral, his TikTok account has millions of views, and in July he even sat down with Joe Rogan — who suggested Talarico should consider running for president one day.
He also gained attention in 2021 when he and dozens of fellow Democrats left Texas for weeks in an effort to block a Republican-led redistricting plan.
Now, Talarico is kicking off his Senate campaign with a rally in his hometown of Round Rock, just north of Austin. Republicans aren’t wasting time attacking him — the GOP’s Senate campaign arm has already branded him “an out-of-touch Harvard liberal,” pointing to his Ivy League degree.
But Talarico seems ready for that fight. His pitch is simple: faith, progressive values, and the belief that ordinary Texans can take on entrenched power. Photo by Antonioaesparza, Wikimedia commons.
