Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images |
James Talarico had a problem, and he didn’t need me to tell him what it was. In March, the unassuming state lawmaker had beaten U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a Democratic Senate primary that their supporters had turned nasty, even as the candidates mostly stayed above the fray.
However, by October, the Texas Politics Project poll had him at 79% among Black voters. Overall, polling averages compiled by MS NOW partner FiftyPlusOne show him with a 3.5-point lead over Paxton with days to go. Yet still a sign of a contest close enough that Black voters could swing it.
The story of how Talarico took his problem and met it head-on is a story of old-school pounding the pavement, modern campaigning via influencers, and yes, money. But it’s also a story of the power of that rarest of political traits: humility. It could turn out to be the story of the 2026 midterms. |
