Texas state Rep. James Talarico, whose Christian faith and populist message drew nationwide attention, pulled off an upset against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the March 3 Senate primary for the Democratic nomination, multiple outlets reported.
The race was called overnight, following confusion over polling close times that led the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in and prompted Crockett to announce she wasn't expecting results until the following day.
With 94% of the votes counted the morning of Wednesday, March 4, Talarico had just under 53% of the vote, a comfortable lead over Crockett's nearly 46%, according to the Associated Press.
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By early morning Texas time, Crockett officially conceded, announcing in a statement she called Talarico to congratulate him on his win. She said Texas is "primed to turn blue," and urged the party to remain united, "because this is bigger than any one person."
"This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track," Crockett said. "With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win."
The race, which became at times bitterly contentious in its final weeks, endured saw logistical problems on election night. Reporters came in that voters in two major counties, including Crockett's hometown of Dallas, were turned away from polling places.
Local voters for years had been allowed to cast their ballot anywhere in the county, but Republicans in Dallas County and Williamson County opted to change the rules for the 2026 primary, and require people cast ballots only at their assigned precinct.
A judge ordered the voting period to be extended by two hours at the urging of both Democratic contenders. But the Texas Supreme Court, at the behest of state Attorney General Ken Paxton, ruled the Dallas County ballots cast after the original close of polls had to be separated from other ballots.
Crockett slammed the disruptions, alleging Republicans "targeted" Dallas County, and declared they would further delay results. A spokesperson for her campaign told the Associated Press she plans to file a lawsuit over the alleged disenfranchisement.
Talarico, a 36-year-old former middle school teacher who Democrats hope holds the key to victory in the heavily Republican state, argued American politics is more about "top vs. the bottom" than a traditional liberal against conservative worldview.
Crockett entered the race three months after Talarico and was considered, by many, the favorite given her national profile and fundraising prowess. She started with a double-digit lead, according to his own campaign polling, but he raked in millions during a primary sprint that became more about a question of electability between the two than their slightly different policy positions.
Talarico coupled an uncanny ability to draw attention, such as his online exclusive appearance on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert", with a focused message on improving wages and tackling affordability in housing and childcare.
Democrats haven't won a U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1988, but Talarico's supporters argue that he was better positioned than Crockett — known for her quick-witted jousts with President Donald Trump and his allies — in peeling away moderate and conservative voters.
Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jasmine Crockett concedes, James Talarico wins Texas Senate primary
