James Talarico: Texas Senate Candidate Profile, Background, Positions & Election Results (November 2026)

James Talarico, a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, is on the ballot for the U.S. Senate in Texas on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. His opponent is Republican Ken Paxton, the state's attorney general. This guide covers who the candidates are, where they stand, and where the race stands.

Current Status: Texas Senate Race

As of the latest Associated Press update on election night (November 3), AP had not called the race and the count was not finished. Results change as votes are counted, so check the AP, the Texas Secretary of State, or your local news for the latest numbers.

Update this section when AP calls the race.

Texas Senate Race at a Glance

Who Is James Talarico?

• Age: 36
• Current role: Member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 50 (Austin area)
• Background: A former middle school teacher, educated at the University of Texas at Austin and at Harvard
• Primary: Won the Democratic Senate primary on March 3, 2026, with about 53% of the vote
• Campaign launch: Declared his candidacy on September 9, 2025

Talarico's Stated Priorities

According to his campaign and interviews with Texas outlets, Talarico says he would:

• Focus on affordability, and tie it to campaign finance changes and a limit on congressional stock trading
• Work for bipartisan support in the Senate
• Address the influence of large technology companies and the resource demands of AI data centers
• Oppose his own party if he believed a Democratic policy threatened Texas oil and gas jobs

He has said he is the only member of the Texas Legislature who has never taken corporate PAC money, and he points to legislation he helped pass on school funding, child care, housing and prescription drug costs.

Who Is Ken Paxton?

• Current role: Texas Attorney General
• Backing: Endorsed by President Donald Trump
• Background: The Texas House impeached Paxton in 2023 on bribery and corruption charges, and the Texas Senate acquitted him.
• Campaign: Paxton's closing tour was themed around the Texas Revolution.

Campaign Money and Spending

The race is described as one of the most expensive non-presidential races in American history. Reports say spending by both parties and outside groups has passed half a billion dollars, and one report says Republican groups alone have spent about $300 million supporting Paxton. Talarico has been reported to outraise Paxton in direct campaign contributions, while outside groups have played a large role on both sides.

Polls

Polling has shown a close race. A University of Houston Hobby School survey, for example, showed Talarico at 48% and Paxton at 46%. Polls can differ from the final result, and each pollster uses different methods.

Why This Race Is Closely Watched

• Republicans have won every U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1988.
• A Democrat hasn't won statewide office in Texas since 1994.
• A win by either candidate would carry national significance for control of the Senate.
• Analysts say a Talarico win would depend on persuading enough Republican-leaning voters to cross over or skip the Senate race, while Paxton's campaign has focused on Republican turnout.

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How to Follow the Results

1. AP election results: The AP counts votes and calls races.
2. Texas Secretary of State: Official state results.
3. Local news: Texas Tribune, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News and local TV stations.
4. Be patient: Close races can take hours or days to call, and official results are certified later.

Sources

• Ballotpedia: James Talarico
• Ballotpedia: 2026 U.S. Senate election in Texas
• Wikipedia: 2026 U.S. Senate election in Texas
• Texas Tribune: Paxton and Talarico close their Senate campaigns
• KPRC 2: Where Paxton and Talarico stand
• NewsNation: Who is James Talarico?
• Euronews: Texas braces for epic Senate race
• Associated Press: Election results
• Texas Secretary of State: Election results

FAQ

Who is James Talarico? A Democratic Texas state representative and former teacher running for the U.S. Senate in Texas.

Who is he running against? Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Who won the Texas Senate race? As of election night, AP hadn't called the race. Check AP for the latest.

When was the election? Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

How old is James Talarico? 36.

Last updated: November 3, 2026 (election night). Results change as votes are counted. This article does not endorse any candidate.