Identity politics convulse Dems' Texas Senate primary
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The Texas Democratic Senate primary between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico has turned ugly over race and credibility, becoming a skirmish that could foreshadow tensions for Democrats nationwide.
Why it matters: The primary's rapid escalation in identity-based attacks reveals unsettled fault lines that Democrats worry could derail them, again.
- Back in December, Crockett had to defend comments she made a year ago to Vanity Fair, when she described how Latinos talk about immigration reminded her of the "slave mentality."
- In January, Matt Rogers, co-host of the popular culture podcast Las Culturistas, apologized after he suggested Crockett wouldn't win a general election, triggering accusations of racism.
- Then a TikTok post last week claimed that Talarico, a white man, called former Senate candidate (and former U.S. House rep.) Colin Allred a "mediocre Black man."
Catch up quick: The viral TikTok prompted Allred to rebuke Talarico publicly and endorse Crockett, who is also Black, days before early voting.
- Talarico denied making any racist comment and said he was mischaracterized because he was discussing Allred's Senate campaign, not him as a person.
- The winner will face whoever survives the Texas GOP's own grueling Senate primary between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
Zoom in: Crockett supporters jumped on the accusations to suggest on social media that Talarico was racially insensitive — a charge his defenders angrily denounced.
- "James has repeatedly urged everyone to treat Congresswoman Crockett with respect and spoken out against racist attacks," Talarico campaign spokesperson J.T. Ennis tells Axios.
Zoom out: The contest highlights the minefield Democrats face with their diverse coalition and the pressures within that coalition to be heard and supported.
- Talarico has cultivated a racially diverse following on social media by pairing progressive policy positions with a faith-centered message that cuts across racial and generational lines.
- Crockett gained national prominence as a House member by becoming one of Democrats' most viral interrogators in congressional hearings, especially during clashes with Republicans over race.
What they're saying: "A random TikTok account with an unverified story turns into a direct-to-camera video… within 12 hours. That's no way to run a party," Keith Edwards, a Democratic commentator, tells Axios.
- Edwards said the Crockett campaign (and online supporters) seized an opportunity to brand Talarico as a racist off a shaky claim and that "this is not something a campaign does when they're winning."
- University of Houston political scientist Jeronimo Cortina tells Axios that Texas Democrats can't afford primaries that leave the nominee "wounded" since turnout and unity, not intra-coalition grievance, decide general elections.
- But Houston-based Democratic consultant Marc Campos said even "electability" arguments can become identity-coded — and Republicans benefit when Democrats validate stereotypes about which candidates are "acceptable" to which voters.
Between the lines: Democrats are wary because a similar identity-focused dynamic hurt them in 2024.
- Kamala Harris won most Black voters and a slim majority of Latino voters.
- However, Donald Trump made historic gains with Latino men and younger voters, narrowing Democrats' coalition and exposing limits of identity-based appeals.
- Looking ahead to 2028, strategists fear a replay — especially if Harris runs again — in which some supporters argue certain voter groups "owe" loyalty based on identity rather than outreach.
