Talarico bets on cross-aisle coalition to flip Texas Senate

Texas Democrat James Talarico is betting he can flip the U.S. Senate seat by building a broad coalition, courting disaffected Republicans and independents, and emphasizing a record of cross‑partisan work on taxes, education, housing, and energy. He’s riding a strong fundraising surge and internal polls that show him ahead of Ken Paxton, while Paxton’s camp and Trump allies launch aggressive attacks. The race hinges on converting Cornyn supporters and expanding turnout, with analysts noting Texas remains a challenging but potentially decisive battleground in 2026.