State Representative James Talarico, a rising figure in Texas’s Democratic Party and a seminary graduate, officially declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on September 9, 2025, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested race for the seat currently held by Republican Senator John Cornyn. Talarico’s announcement, made early Tuesday morning, comes after months of speculation fueled by his high-profile public appearances and viral social media presence.
Talarico’s entry into the Democratic primary introduces a fresh dynamic to the race. He joins at least two other prominent Democrats: Colin Allred, the former NFL player and last cycle’s Senate nominee, and retired NASA astronaut Terry Virts. U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro has hinted at a possible run, while former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke, a perennial figure in Texas politics, remains active through his statewide town halls, though he has not officially declared his candidacy. O’Rourke’s team, according to ABC News, has stated that “Beto has not taken anything off the table and will continue to do everything he can to be helpful to his fellow Texans.”
On the Republican side, the contest is shaping up to be just as combative. Four-term incumbent John Cornyn faces a primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was impeached in 2022. The outcome of the GOP primary could have significant implications for the general election, as Democrats—who have not won a statewide race in Texas in three decades—see a potential opening if Paxton emerges as the Republican nominee. As HuffPost reported, party strategists believe a Paxton victory could make the race more competitive in what is already expected to be a favorable midterm environment for Democrats.
Talarico’s campaign is defined by its populist messaging and a call to unite working Texans against what he describes as an entrenched political class beholden to billionaire interests. In his launch video and subsequent interviews, Talarico declared, “The biggest divide in our country is not left versus right—it’s top versus 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. This is an underdog fight. We’re going up against the political establishment, and we’re going up against a lot of money. Big Money is powerful, but it's nothing compared to people power.”
His campaign themes echo across social media, where Talarico has amassed 1.2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok. Clips of his speeches—particularly those criticizing billionaires and Republican policies—have gone viral. One widely shared video features Talarico stating, “The only minority destroying America is the billionaires. Trans people are 1% of the population. Muslims are 1% of the population. Undocumented people are 1% of the population. We are focused on the wrong 1%.”
Talarico’s profile extends beyond his digital presence. A former middle school English teacher in one of San Antonio’s poorest neighborhoods, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard before entering politics. In 2018, at just 29, he became the youngest member of the Texas Legislature. He’s since passed legislation to make insulin more affordable, provide tax relief to child care centers, and ensure the availability of Narcan, an overdose reversal drug, in every Texas public school—though none of his bills from the 2025 legislative session were enacted.
His faith is central to his political identity, but it diverges sharply from the conservative Christian traditions often associated with Texas politics. Talarico earned his master’s in theology from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2024 and has publicly opposed measures like Senate Bill 10, which mandates displaying the Ten Commandments in every Texas public school classroom. During a legislative hearing, he remarked, “A religion that has to force people to put up a poster to prove its legitimacy is a dead religion, and it’s not one I want to be a part of. It’s not one that I think I am a part of. My concern is instead of bringing a bill that will feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, we are instead mandating that people put up a poster.”
Talarico’s willingness to challenge Christian nationalism and conservative orthodoxy has resonated with many progressives. On an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience in July 2025, he discussed his faith and its influence on his progressive values, saying, “I was told that to be a Christian you had to hate gay people. If you want to be a Christian you had to control women. If you wanted to be a Christian you had to reject science. In fact, a lot of those positions that I just mentioned are contrary to biblical values, to the teachings of Jesus.” His appearance on Rogan’s podcast—where the host even encouraged him to run for president—helped catapult him into the national spotlight.
Despite his rising profile, Talarico has positioned himself as an outsider to Washington politics. When asked by HuffPost if he would support Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, he responded, “I’ve never had a constituent or any Texan ask me about Chuck Schumer.” He added that one of his “advantages in this race is that I’m very disconnected and unfamiliar with Washington, D.C.”
On contentious national issues, Talarico has chosen to emphasize practical action over ideological debates. When questioned about whether Israel’s war in Gaza constituted genocide, he told HuffPost, “I worry that some of these debates happening within elite political circles tend to be a distraction from the immediate goal, which is stopping the human suffering in Gaza. And so getting into discussions about particular legal terms, or, you know, history from, you know, a century ago, to me, feel like more like playing politics than actually trying to get something done.”
His campaign launch comes on the heels of a dramatic summer in Texas politics. In August, Republicans emerged victorious in a redistricting battle, passing new legislative maps projected to secure GOP control of three to five additional seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Talarico, who left the state with other Democrats during a special session to protest the GOP redistricting plan, became a fixture on national media, denouncing what he and his colleagues described as an effort by Donald Trump and Texas Republicans to “rig the election.”
On the evening of his announcement, Talarico held a rally in his hometown of Round Rock, just north of Austin, energizing supporters with his underdog message and call to “start flippin’ tables”—a reference to his campaign’s biblical inspiration. “Two thousand years ago, when the powerful few rigged the system, that barefoot rabbi walked into the seat of power and flipped over the tables of injustice. To those who love this state, to those who love this country, to those who love our neighbors: It’s time to start flippin’ tables,” he declared in his launch video.
As the primary season heats up, Texas voters are faced with a crowded Democratic field and a Republican contest that could reshape the state’s political landscape. Talarico’s candidacy, grounded in populist rhetoric, a progressive Christian ethos, and a rejection of establishment politics, offers a striking contrast to both his Democratic and Republican rivals. Whether this approach can overcome Texas’s longstanding Republican dominance remains to be seen, but there’s no denying the energy and attention his campaign has already generated.
With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, the battle for Texas’s Senate seat is shaping up to be one of the nation’s most closely watched races—one where old political certainties are being challenged and new voices, like Talarico’s, are demanding to be heard.
