James Talarico fires up 3,000 Texans at HUGE rally ,

[stonecutter357]

[ananda]

1. All right! This guy is good!

Just excellent!

[FakeNoose]

2. Great speech and a nice delivery

[democrank]

3. Uplifting speech

Thanks for posting this.

[hamsterjill]

4. This guy is amazing.

Voted for him already. I think he looks like Opie with cowboy boots, but he connects with people and he's a uniter. He's right about that barefoot rabbi, too.

[yellowdogintexas]

7. the barefoot rabbi is a phrase John Fugelsange often uses. nt

[hamsterjill]

48. Yeppers

I'm reading Fugelsange's book right now. He's pretty amazing, too.

The expression is very common among many Christian groups. "Evangelicals"....not so much. They prefer their Jesus to be White with blue eyes.

[somaticexperiencing]

5. This is amazing. More like this. So common sense. So true. So necessary. United against the truly hurtful 1%.

[Melon]

6. I really feel like he's heads above Crockett for Texas.

I cast my vote yesterday.

[PeaceWave]

8. God help Texas if they stunt this young man's political career...

Because, in time, this guy could go ALL the way.

[yellowdogintexas]

9. I really like him. I have met him a couple of times and found him to be

so engaging and comfortable in his skin and with the crowd.
He stays for pictures until everyone who want one has a chance.

Jasmine is a ball of fire and a force of nature, it's true and there are those who think she can't win in November because of those things. I think James has a better shot especially considering he will appeal to those West Texas rednecks

Texas is so mysoginistic that I am hesitant to predict she will win. Anne Richards is thrown up as an example of a woman who won statewide but she also had the absolute worst opponent ever. He was a real piece of work.

The other woma who won a statewide election we Kay Bailey Hutchison and she was a Republican. A moderate Republican; I sure do wish we still had her; her retirement gave us Ted Cruz

I absolutely despise how this race has erupted into a range war. It all hinged on the redistricting and the last minute SCOTUS opinion that ruled for the midterm map - 3 days before the filling deadline. That was when everything went insane.

[markodochartaigh]

15. Anne Richards' opponent, Clayton Williams

made that joke about rape and he still came within three points of beating Anne Richards. I think that much of Texas has come a long way since the 90's, but I also think that about one third of Texas hasn't come far at all.

[hamsterjill]

50. I remember when that happened, and I couldn't believe every woman in Texas was not enraged!!!

I had women friends who were laughing about it. I wasn't laughing.

There are still women in Texas today who would think it's funny. That's because, of course, they can't conceive of anything like that ever happening to them. THEY wouldn't ever put themselves into a position where it could happen. They love to blame victims.

That's the difference in the women in Texas, and I am proud to still be offended by that stupid comment.

[markodochartaigh]

60. Yes, I think that it is a lack of empathy with victims.

And a lack of empathy is a hallmark trait of authoritarians.

[LeftInTX]

19. I think these "cross-over" votes are over blown

1. Not as many people know how bad Ken Paxton is as we think we know. They are focused on DC, not state politics. They will simply vote for the R as usual. 2. Cornyn could still win that primary.

People are already saying he's presidential. Can you say Beto?

The way politics are these days, it's better to be fiesty. Even negative attention is good attention. It worked for Trump.

I voted for Jasmine. I think she's fit for the job. I saw how she grilled Bondi the other day.

Wish Talarico had run for governor, but was told that he couldn't win against Abbott....Hello??? Why couldn't he win against Abbott???

He's been fighting Abbott tooth and nail since he was elected in 2018. He's been fighting those billionaires up in Ft Worth. He's been following Chris Tackett and the Texas dark money stuff. He's been such a strong force for public education in Texas. He would be perfect, but a bunch of "moms" recruited him for senator because "he couldn't beat Abbott"....go figure.... Of course I'm supporting Gina now and was thrilled that she threw her hat in the ring, but I still feel Talarico would be a stronger candidate.

We may not win, but the goal is to run the best candidates for the postition. Likewise I don't think Jasmine would have been a good candidate for governor, but she is for senator. She's in the federal government. She's in congress. I don't think Talarico will pick up that many cross over votes to make a difference. If I thought so, I would have voted for him in a flash.

[SSJVegeta]

33. Talarico has already proven he can pick up enough crossover votes to win

His first run he flipped a solid red district.

He also has more legislative experience than Crockett. He has been in the legislature longer than Crockett has been in any type of public office.

[LeftInTX]

44. He has been in the Texas House since 2019. She served in the Texas House in 2021 and US Congress from 2023 .

He also changed Texas House districts and is in a safe seat. I checked his would be vacant seat to see if it was safe when he decided to run for senate.

So, he flipped a seat in 2018 and 2020. In the 2022 election, he was in a blue seat.

She got the San Antonio Express-News endorsement due to her congressional experience.

Jasmine is appealing to the anger that we feel over Trump. Her door hanger says, "Enough is Enough"

[SSJVegeta]

49. The difference between a state legislator and federal legislator is pretty negligble

Again he absolutely has a bit more legislative experience than her and -as you pointed out, flipped a seat blue. Thing is I didnt realize he did it twice. I thought he switched districts after the first time.

But based on what you said it seems like he actually waited until after redistricting changed his original district entirely?

Texas voted for Trump by double digits. It is going to take a lot more than Trump directed anger to flip that Senate seat. Trump's approval rating is still at least in the 40s in Texas.

[SSJVegeta]

51. Just looked up the 52nd district (the original district he ran in)

Before Talarico the last time a Dem ran there was 2014. The Republican won by around 18 points it looks like. This was of course before any redistricting was done for it...

https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_House_of_Representatives_District_52

Talarico won it in 2018 and 2020 by about 3 percent each time. FWIW

[summer_in_TX]

10. I'm getting to hear him in person Monday.

Can't wait. The last politician I went to see was Obama in the run-up to his first election in 2008. Had a prime spot, thanks to my mother. She had deep Democratic connections. Alas she passed in 2013.

I've been on tenterhooks about this election. Jasmine Crockett is formidable and could win the primary. But Talerico could win in November because he appeals to independents too and can pick up disaffected Republican votes.

This week's response to his interview with Colbert being banned has been fascinating and hopeful. The Poynter Institute says between views on YouTube and on social media, 85 MILLION people have watched his interview. WOW!

I'm trying not to hold my breath, but I am crossing fingers and toes, and praying every day.

[Cha]

11. He had me until he started Dissing our Dems.

Take a look at Jasmine Crockett, JT. She FIGHTS and So Do So Many of our Dems!

[MuirHero]

16. Some Dems deserve to be dissed.

One of the best examples of a sitting Dem who deserves to be dissed is John Fetterman who is my senator here in Pennsylvania. I've been a Democratic Committeeperson for 41 years and I absolutely will not vote for Fetterman in the primary if he decides to run again in 2028. If Dems are not doing the job we elected them to do we get rid of them in the primary. That's how democracy works, but just to be clear, I would never vote for a Repuke in a general election.

Having said all of that, I am a huge fan of both Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, but I think Talarico has a better chance of winning the general election. His message is spot on and while I cannot vote for him I've already donated twice to his campaign and I think he is our best shot at flipping Texas blue and taking back the Senate in November.

[Cha]

20. Of Couse, Fetterman.. a DINO at this point ,but

We Have So Many Who Are Resisting Strongly... And Talarico can't do it alone.. we Need Dems Across the Country Winning in the Midterms.. like they have been Overperforming Now.

Check out all the Dems' Names who are Involved in This Show of Solidarity and Resistance, to come on the 24th of February.

State Of The Swamp...alternative/rebuttal to SOTU

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221024758

Ron Filipkowski: The People's State of the Union is catching on.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221033559

[SocialDemocrat61]

30. The latest poll says Crockett has the best chance in November

https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/02/20/texas-senate-race-rep-crockett-ag-paxton-shift-dynamics-in-contests/88781190007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115327p000450c000450v115327d--53--b--53--&gca-ft=179&gca-ds=sophi

[SSJVegeta]

35. It doesn't actually say that.

It shows that Jasmine Crockett is ahead within the MOE under certain conditions. It also doesnt actually poll Talarico V Paxton or or any other candidates to give us any way to compare how she polls.


Here is the actual poll:

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000019c-6981-d3b5-addf-e9c52a670000

(Deleted my original comment because I thought I was mistaken about it not including Talarico. I was mistaken about being mistaken)

[SocialDemocrat61]

37. But it does show she can win in November

Which is really what matters.

[SSJVegeta]

39. Polls 8 months out arent actually representative of what an election will look like

For instance just 6 months ago Crockett was beating Talarico by around 20 points. Now it is a dead heat.

[SocialDemocrat61]

40. Are you saying

Crockett can’t win in November?

[SSJVegeta]

41. No.

But it will be an uphill battle for either her or Talarico.

As ive said before in our discussions, I think Talarico currently has a more winnable message that can appeal to crossover voters. He is also the only one who has won a solid red district, and has more time in elected office (and legislative experience) than Crockett. Im not saying Jasmine Crockett cant win in November, but Talarico is the only one between them so far who has demonstrated he could.

Crockett however is adaptable and incredibly smart. I can see her still pulling it off too TBH

[SocialDemocrat61]

52. Good

Nice to know that Texas has two good candidates who both can win in November!

[SSJVegeta]

54. It would be an absolute mistake for anybody to underestimate either of them

They each have bright futures regardless of the outcome for this primary

[pinkstarburst]

47. I'm not sure I trust that polling, to be honest

I HOPE that either candidate can win in November, but Texas goes red every single time. Crockett has never had to compete in a race that was actually competitive. Her House district is a safe blue district. I am worried that she would face a lot of difficulty running in the Texas general where she would need to pick up votes from the middle in order to have any chance of winning, because her messaging is very divisive. She might inspire dems to get out and vote, but she will absolutely fire up the right and the middle to vote against her, too, to make sure she doesn't get that seat.

Talarico is the only candidate who has FLIPPED a solid red district and won his seat. His messaging reaches across the middle and can get independent votes, and I believe this why? Because he's done it before. She hasn't.

[SocialDemocrat61]

53. As long as either can win in November!

[pinkstarburst]

46. Exactly. This poll doesn't even include Talarico

Another thing to note is that I don't think we've seen ANY polling that's taken place since the Colbert interview went viral. Talarico has a lot of momentum right now. Crockett seems to have a lot of support from non-Texans. All the actual Texans I talk to are voting for or have already voted for Talarico.

[pinkstarburst]

45. That poll doesn't include Talarico

[SocialDemocrat61]

56. But it shows that Crockett can in win November too.

And isn't that is what is important, that both Dems can win in November.

[yellowdogintexas]

21. If you are talking about the Allred thing, that has been grossly misleading

He campaigned for and supported Allred in his race against Ted Cruz. However, his campaign was mediocre. There was a running gag "Where is Allred" . I don't think he spent much time on the border.

Also any comment James made was not a public one but was a conversation between the two of them. I just can't see him dissing Allred at all. it isn't his style.

I like Jasmine but I would have preferred her to stay in the House until Cruz comes up again.

Thankfully this primary is almost over, and there will not be a runoff because the 3rd person is an unknown

[Cha]

23. No... I don't know about ".. the Allred thing.."..

I'm referring to what he was saying in the Vid about.. ".. national Dems.".

I don't like any Anti Dem message.. I've seen that horror show before when we got Traitor 2 times.

No worries I don't live in Texas .. and if I did I would vote for him if he's the candidate, of Course.

[SunSeeker]

28. Democrats in Congress have always been convenient punching bags, even for other Democrats.

This has resulted in Congressional Dems polling about the same as Trump right now. https://abcnews.com/Politics/americans-disapprove-trump-issues-americans-dont-trust-dems/story?id=130346647

Talarico can read polls. Yes, it is totally unfair for him to say "coastal Democrats" are out of touch. But it is also an effective way to endear him to Texas independents and disaffected Republican evangelicals, and even a lot of Texas Democrats. If that's what it takes to flip Texas blue, I forgive him.

When reporters asked Nancy Pelosi what she had to say to Democratic candidates who distanced themselves from her, she'd crack a big smile and say, "Just win, baby!"

[SSJVegeta]

36. As a coastal Democrat (from both coasts)

I can vouch that many of us are out of touch.

[SunSeeker]

64. At least we're in touch with reality, unlike every MAGAt. nt

[PeaceWave]

65. Yeah. So out of touch that we on both coasts comprise the vast majority of Democratic fundraising.

[DFW]

24. I agree. Our opposition does NOT consist solely of CA and NY Democrats and billionaires.

Ignorance and religious perversion are just as much the enemies of Texans as Chuck Schumer or Elon Musk. I’d say, even more so. There are less than 100 billionaires in Texas. Go kill them all, including the ones on our side (I’ve met at least one), and you’ve reduced the number of Texans voting Republican by under 100. Like Adlai Stevenson said, “that’s not enough. I need a majority.” You do not increase the number of your potential allies by trashing them.

Just like yelling about the dangers of Mexicans overrunning Maine or Montana is distraction for the gullible, so, too, is yelling about the dangers of Sheldon Whitehouse, Adam Schiff and 82 rich guys in Texas as being the only things standing between us and a Texas Democrat in the Senate. If that were true, Beto would have been our Senator long before now.

Talarico needs to fine-tune his message if he wants to move beyond the mirror image of Republicans whining about “libbruls.” Texas Democrats are smarter than that, and will turn off if he keeps preaching about dangers that are not our biggest threats.

[Cha]

25. Thank You!

Texas Democrats are smarter than that, and will turn off if he keeps preaching about dangers that are not our biggest threats.

[PeaceWave]

26. CA Democrat here who took ZERO offense to what Talarico had to say. His candor is refreshing.

[DFW]

27. He wasn't offensive, but his emphasis was misplaced

Tip O’Neill was correct, “all politics is local.” What Gavin Newsom has to say will not change votes one way or the other in a Texas primary. Talarico is wasting valuable time bothering. Keep it local to Texas. Who we end up electing to the Senate in Texas will not hinge on what is said in Sacramento any more than the next governor of California will be determined by speeches by Texas Democrats in Austin. In a statewide election, the message has to resonate with the people who will be voting there. If it doesn’t, it was wasted hot air.

[PeaceWave]

63. This young man is brilliant. I don't think it's worth looking for flaws in him that don't exist.

[SocialDemocrat61]

29. Who did he diss?

Heard Boebert attacked Biden on Real Time and Talarico didn’t push back on her. But never heard that he dissed anyone else.

[Bluepinky]

38. Agree with you. And I like his message.

Billionaires may be only 1% of the population, but they have more power and influence than the remaining 99%. The majority of the population want corporate money out of politics, an opinion not shared by the Republican Party and some others.

[SocialDemocrat61]

57. This doesn't answer my question.

[Bluepinky]

59. I didn't ask the question, I agree with you that he didn't diss anyone.

It appears he was stating his belief that Dems at the top of our party need to represent the people and not the 1%, by disallowing corporate and big-money donations during our election process.

[SocialDemocrat61]

61. Never said if he did or didn't

I just never heard that he had other than what happened on Real Time and was asking for more information.

[Bluepinky]

62. Same here, haven't heard him diss anyone.

[VegasVet]

12. Meh. This is a case of me really not getting the hype.

[MuirHero]

17. I am a huge fan of Talarico and hope he wins the primary.

[SunSeeker]

13. There's hope for Texas!

[fujiyamasan]

14. Paxton should be vulnerable

He's scandal ridden and corrupt to the core. It’s actually appalling that someone like him would run for such a high office and it shows the sort of candidate republicans would prefer because Jeebus. He’s probably nearly as disliked as Ted Cruz. I think with Talarico as the nominee, we could see more republicans sitting it out, simply because he’d scare them a bit less.

There’s no doubt Crocket would engage democrats in coming to the polls. But I have a bad feeling she would bring out republicans (and republican leaning independents) as well.

[MuirHero]

18. Completely agree with you

[LeftInTX]

22. Paxton is a Republican wet dream.

I voted for Jasmine.

Wake me up when moderate Republicans show up....

[pinkstarburst]

31. Crockett is a firebrand

But she only appeals to solidly blue democrats. She might have democrats excited to vote for her (though Talarico would have dems excited to vote for him, too), but the flip side is she would get the right and the middle so worked up over the idea of her winning, they would show up in droves.

She's also made statements that are very divisive and that offend large groups of people. Calling Abbott "hot wheels" to mock his disability. Abbott is a terrible governor for many reasons, but I wish she would stick to listing the reasons he sucks due to policy and how he's hurting people. As soon as she starts throwing out ablest slurs... how many people who are disabled themselves, or who have a disabled family member are hearing her say that and deciding that if she's the candidate in November, they won't be voting for someone who thinks it's okay to mock people for being paraplegic?

[pinkstarburst]

32. Talarico is the real deal

I voted for him and I am cheering him on all the way to the end. He has a real way of engaging people, without alienating them, and gives people a sense of hope when he talks. I think that's the direction we need to be going in. I think he's the sort of candidate who could not only get ALL democrats to show up in November, but could also get some votes from independents. No one can win Texas without getting some votes from the middle. Just getting democratic votes isn't enough.

[CTyankee]

42. Is there a middle? Are there true "independents" or just republicans who "say" they are?

I am a 3rd generation Texan who lives joyfully in CT now, but now I have a granddaughter who lives happily in Austin but I fear for her rights to vote, to make her own decisions should she ever face an unwanted pregnancy.

[pinkstarburst]

43. I don't know the answer to this

But I do know that if there isn't, Crockett is sunk either way.

She is too divisive to win in a red state. Her messaging is fine when she is running in a safe blue House district. I don't think her messaging plays as well when she has to run in the general.

Talarico actually FLIPPED a solid red district to win his seat. So yes, I think he can flip votes, where she can't. Talarico was building up solid momentum in Texas and a lot of goodwill in the months before Crockett decided to enter the race literally on the day of the filing deadline. I truly wish she had decided to run for something else because it would have been better to have them both working to get the vote out, rather than against each other.

[gulliver]

55. He did well on Maher Friday

I think he has a chance.

[PeaceWave]

58. I think he is the only chance.