James Talarico won the Democratic nomination for a US Senate seat in Texas on Tuesday, capping a remarkable rise from state lawmaker and seminary student to the party’s standard-bearer in one of the key races of the 2026 midterm cycle.

With his blend of faith-based populism, bipartisan appeal and generational energy, Talarico defeated Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a firebrand beloved by the party’s base but who struggled to dispel concerns that she could defeat a Republican in a state that has not elected a Democrat statewide in more than 30 years.

A jubilant Talarico told supporters in Austin before the race was called: “We are not just trying to win an election. We are trying to fundamentally change our politics. And it’s working.”

    • 4grams@awful.systems
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      2 days ago

      I’m not Christian myself, but he seems like the good kind. I’ve heard people upset with him for going to seminary school, but I am not someone to judge based off their beliefs; I judge actions. I grew up with a lot of very good Christians, I grew up with a lot of very shitty Christian’s. I learned that is the character of the person that matters, and from all I’ve see of Talerico, he seems on the level.

      I would love to see some good Christian examples back. If you actually live by the teachings, at least the ones I grew up with (grew up Lutheran), they can be a positive force. But the mainstream, megachurch, chuddy, nationalist version of it that’s taken over this nation is an affront to nearly everything I was taught it stands for. I’m no longer a believer (probably never was), but I still have many positive associations with my former faith. I still know a lot of “normal” Christian’s who hate what is happening. My possibly naive hope is that Talerico can provide that off ramp for some of the other extremism going on in the religious world.

        • Sam_Bass@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          To do so during the repug fear campaign, make absolutely certain of your “personal” voting location since this last round had lots of us being moved around in a thinly veiled attempt to keep our votes from counting.