The BareStory
A controversy has developed in the Texas Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate involving candidates State Representative James Talarico and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. The dispute began over the weekend when a social media commentator alleged that Talarico made disparaging remarks about former Congressman Colin Allred, who recently withdrew from the Senate race to run for Congress.
The commentator, identified as Morgan Thompson, claimed in a video that Talarico told her during a private conversation that he had "signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable, intelligent, Black woman." The remark allegedly compared Allred to Crockett. Talarico disputed the account, labeling it a "mischaracterization." He stated that while he had praised Crockett, he had described Allred’s "method of campaigning as mediocre," not his life or service, and asserted he would never attack Allred based on race.
Following the allegation, Allred released a video response criticizing the reported comments. He advised Talarico against tearing down a Black man to compliment a Black woman and told the candidate to "keep my name out of your mouth." As a direct result of the incident, Allred, who had previously remained neutral in the primary, formally endorsed Crockett.
The primary election is scheduled for March 3. Polling currently indicates a competitive race between Talarico and Crockett for the Democratic nomination.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• The competitive landscape for the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate nomination has shifted, potentially influencing who advances to the general election, as former Congressman Colin Allred has moved from neutrality to endorsing Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
• Voters participating in the March 3 primary face new considerations regarding candidate character, specifically needing to weigh allegations of racially disparaging remarks by State Representative James Talarico against his claims that the comments were purely a critique of political strategy.
• Public scrutiny of the candidates now includes conflicting accounts of a private conversation, requiring observers to determine the credibility of the accusations versus Talarico's defense regarding his intent and choice of words.
