Since December, U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett has intensified the race for the Texas Democratic nomination, throwing her hat into the ring against State Representative James Talarico for a spot on the ticket. The Texas Democratic primary takes place on March 3, and early voting ends Feb. 27.

Just weeks ago, union leader Taylor Rehmet flipped a Fort Worth state senate seat that President Donald Trump won over 17 points. Now directing attention to a statewide race featuring scandal-riddled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, incumbent senator (and Trinity’s finest) John Cornyn, class of ‘73, or even Congressman Wesley Hunt, who’s best to challenge the Republican ticket?

Talarico Pros

Talarico, Presbyterian minister and former public school teacher, serves as the Texas House Representative for District 50, and has campaigned since last September. He’s blown up on Instagram using his faith to speak against mandating the Ten Commandments to be in public school classrooms, rallying against school vouchers and quarreling against Christian nationalism. In a Republican-led Texas House, he’s taken charge to author or sponsor meaningful legislation, most notably centered around childcare and a $25 insulin copay cap.

Now, Talarico defines his rhetoric through an economic populist campaign against billionaires — a rather successful strategy for recent Democratic hopefuls like Zohran Mamdani. He’s targeted big money’s role in politics, specifically about congressional stock trading, corporate and super political action committees (PACs). Billionaires, and their tools to influence politics, are not popular amongst voters. Harris Polling found last November that 94% of Americans believe a wealth gap exists, over half indicating that this gap threatens democracy. As a result, his Christian moralist rhetoric, combined with his staunch anti-oligarch campaign, might be Democrats’ best shot under increased economic-driven anxiety.

Talarico Cons

But this is still a competitive primary. Crockett dogwalks Talarico in mobilizing Black voters. Even if he wins the primary, we question the efficacy of his faith-driven rhetoric in a statewide race. Most Christian Texans are evangelicals — a historically conservative voting group.

In addition, there’s structural elements that’ll raise some eyebrows. Despite the progressive branding, Talarico’s admittedly cringeworthy “Medicare for Y’all” public option is weaker than Crockett’s medicare for all stance. As a campaigner, Talarico faced scrutiny when he accepted $59,000 from the Texas Sands PAC during his 2024 race for Texas House. While the PAC supports legalizing sports gambling in Texas, it’s backed by Dallas Mavericks owner, casino magnate and longtime pro-Israel Trump donor Miriam Adelson. During his January debate with Crockett, Talarico claimed he supports sports management legalization solely for its tax revenue, but the donation questions his anti-billionaire campaign promise.

A Senator’s job goes beyond the state borders. It carries itself into foreign policy. Crockett’s track record is pretty standard for establishment Dems, most recently approving $3.3 billion in security funding to Israel. While Talarico, undeniably, has given humanity to Palestinians in his rhetoric, the two candidates are virtually identical on continuing defensive military aid.

The seminary’s history in the Texas legislature isn’t as angelic as his rhetoric. He was among the first  of Texas Democrats to return from the 2021 walkout to delay the GOP’s redistricting plan. Crockett also called him out plenty for being more timid on issues such as impeaching Trump. With the 2021 incident five years in the rear view mirror, and considering Talarico’s participation in the 2025 walkout, his approach to Republicans and Trump can be defined as a rhetorical difference to appeal to a wider voter base.

Crockett Pros

Crockett, civil rights and criminal defense attorney, has served as the U.S. Representative for Texas’s 30th congressional district since 2023. Before her time in the House, she represented numerous Black Lives Matter protestors in pro bono cases. In December, she launched her campaign under the slogan “Texas Tough,” centering her platform on standing up to Donald Trump and the GOP. As her motto suggests, Crockett has earned a reputation as an outspoken politician who will stand up for herself and her constituents.

Her platform positions her as a “battle-tested fighter for the people” who wants to ensure affordability and upward mobility for working-class Texans. She has said her campaign strategy is to expand the electorate and motivate low-propensity voters, and that approach just might work. According to the Texas Tribune, Crockett has the potential to mobilize Black voters, who make up 14% of all eligible voters in the state — a vote share that may push her past the finish line over Talarico.

Additionally, there is no denying that Crockett has become a firebrand for the Democratic Party. She has gone viral for her “clapbacks” to politicians on multiple occasions. You may know her from calling former Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene a “bleach blonde, bad-built butch body” in 2024, and she has a significant social media following (2.1 million on Instagram to Talarico’s 2 million) to show for her viral moments. For many voters, her fiery personality offers a refreshing contrast to other Democratic politicians who are notorious for complacency and passivity in the face of Trump-era politics.

Crockett Cons

However, despite positioning herself as an opponent of the status quo, Crockett is not running an especially radical campaign. Her approach is largely self-driven and packed with platitudes that feel increasingly out of touch in 2026 — such as calls to make the American Dream an “obtainable reality” for all Americans. Affordability for the working class, opposition to “MAGA Republicans” and holding politicians accountable have been repeated so often, and with so little success, that they now feel like hollow buzzwords.

Crockett is making promises voters want to hear, but her platform has not emphasized concrete plans to make those promises a reality — and her limited legislative track record in Congress does little to alleviate that concern. While anti-Trump rhetoric is salient to many liberals, it is not enough to win seats on its own, especially in a state where Trump won 56.2% of the vote in 2024.

Crockett’s campaign has been one-dimensional and shaky. She announced her candidacy just before the filing deadline, and the rush to jumpstart her campaign shows, as she lags behind Talarico in funds and polish. According to the Federal Election Commission, Talarico raised double the money Crockett has in 2026, and she has also come under fire for allegedly using AI in her political ads. Commentators spotted multiple errors on her website soon after its launch. While Crockett framed herself as anti-PAC, she transferred all corporate PAC money from her House campaign account to her Senate campaign in December.

Final Verdict

After weighing the pros and cons of both candidates, our final endorsement for the Democratic nominee goes to Talarico. Both candidates are similar, and while “fighting” rhetoric racks up likes from your liberal relative’s Facebook, Talarico’s anti-oligarch messaging has more crosscutting power. While Crockett’s uninspired anti-Trump politics might galvanize local Dallas elections, it won’t play as strong in a statewide race Trump won by 14 points. Talarico’s history in the Texas legislature and his current focus makes his case stronger, while still confronting the Trump administration when the Federal Communications Commission pulled his interview with Stephen Colbert.

When Crockett joined the race in December, she led overall. Though, Talarico polled majorities with Latino and young voters — a key coalition to even think about turning Texas blue. While Crockett’s prior comments on Republicans might rally the base, her 2024 statements labeling Trump-supporting Latinos bearing a “slave mentality” are both wholly inappropriate and would be an easy slam dunk attack ad for the Republican nominee.

Regardless of which democratic candidate is on the ballot in November, it is imperative that each and every eligible voter cast their vote. And in Texas, any registered voter can — it’s an open primary. Texas hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since Lloyd Bentsen in 1970, but in an era after Beto O’Rourke lost to Ted Cruz by just 2.6 points in the 2018 midterms, perhaps 2026 could break the red streak.