Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
39.2%
44.7%
35.3%
35.1%
2028 Democratic presidential nominee
$123.9M
NOV 7, 2028Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age37 years old (May 17, 1989)
GenderMale
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LocationTexas
BackgroundPolitician
EducationB.A., Government, The University of Texas at Austin (2011)
Notable personal detailsJames Dell Talarico is a Texas Democratic politician and former public school teacher who has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2018, representing District 52 and, after redistricting, District 50. He earned a B.A. in government from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.Ed. in education policy from Harvard University. Before holding office, he taught middle school language arts in San Antonio and worked in education-focused nonprofit leadership.
SourcesShowHide
capitol.texas.govhouse.texas.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orges.wikipedia.orgdemocratsworkforamerica.orgbritannica.comen.wikipedia-on-ipfs.orgcommons.wikimedia.orgtmz.comvotetalarico.orgtexaspolicyresearch.cominkl.comeverything.explained.todaybexardemocrat.orgnewtools.cira.state.tx.usarxiv.orgwebbcountytx.govdocs.txoga.orghcde-texas.orgjamestalarico.comtexaspolitics.comlatimes.comdallasnews.commysanantonio.comnews.yahoo.comtexastribune.orgballotready.orgcommunityimpact.comgivegreen.comopen.pluralpolicy.comlegiscan.comfortune.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgteachthevote.orgnypost.comchristianpost.comapnews.comx.comfec.govradiotv.house.govhouse.govdemocrats-science.house.govclerk.house.govlankford.senate.govcomer.house.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orggovinfo.govvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgru.wikipedia.orgstatic.votesmart.orgvotesmart.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports significantly higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations, closing loopholes (including carried interest and “buy, borrow, die”), raising capital gains and corporate tax rates, and using increased revenue to cut taxes for working families and expand supports (wages, Social Security protections, prescription drug and cost-of-living relief).
Healthcare
Supports expanding government-backed coverage by making Medicare buy-in or a public option available and expanding Medicare access; emphasizes lowering prescription drug costs (including capping insulin copays and importing drugs) and treating health care as a human right. Has a legislative record on prescription-cost reforms and protections for Medicaid.
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Immigration & Border
Supports comprehensive immigration reform that expands legal pathways and a pathway to citizenship for longtime residents while also strengthening border security against cartels and criminal actors. Proposes asylum-system improvements (more immigration judges, root out fraud, speed legitimate protections), modernizing ports of entry, guest-worker and employer-sponsorship programs with labor protections, and targeted enforcement against gangs and traffickers rather than broad deportation of immigrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports restoring and protecting reproductive freedom at the federal level, including federal legislation to codify Roe v. Wade and protections for access to contraception and IVF; opposes Texas’s near-total abortion ban and frames abortion access as a matter of bodily autonomy and public health.
Climate & Energy
Supports federal incentives and investments to expand renewable energy and grid resilience, endorses emissions-reduction planning and climate preparedness, and advocates for diversified energy innovation while maintaining transitional fossil fuel roles.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded background checks for private firearm transfers and has sponsored/co-sponsored legislation to require national instant background checks; supports reforms to policing and measures to improve public safety in schools.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMar 14, 2026
James Talarico, a Texas state representative, has won the Texas Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate race, defeating Jasmine Crockett. His campaign has drawn attention for emphasizing his Christian faith and for criticizing “Christian nationalism,” fueling debate about a potential religious-left message in Texas politics. He is also facing scrutiny over past progressive comments and social media clips, even as polling described in recent coverage suggests a competitive general-election matchup against potential Republican opponents.
capitol.texas.gov+53
Articles
FNFox News3 months ago
James Talarico conjures up memories of Wendy Davis, Beto O’Rourke
Positive
SLSalt Lake City Deseret News3 months ago
Will James Talarico reclaim ‘the religious left’?
Positive
F4FOX 4 News3 months ago
Talarico leads Cornyn and Paxton in Senate race in new poll
Positive
BNBreitbart News Network3 months ago
Dem. TX Senate Candidate James Talarico Says He Loves ‘Trans Children'
Positive
Polls
Texas Democratic Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$40.3M
$30.2M
$20.1M
$10.1M
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$40.3M
$9.9M
$30.4M
$2.0M
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements