The Midterm Editor's note: This page was last updated October 27, 2026. Election rules, candidate fields, and poll numbers change; confirm the latest details with the linked official source before you vote.
James Talarico at a glance
Quick facts
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Party | Democratic |
| Office sought | U.S. Senate, Texas |
| Current office | Texas House of Representatives (since 2019) |
| Official bio | Texas House of Representatives |
| Campaign website |
Biography
Talarico has served in the Texas House since 2019. State representatives write the state budget, set school funding levels, and vote on state law, so his record is a state-level one rather than a federal one.
Before running for office, he worked as a public school teacher. A Senate seat would move him from state budget and school-funding votes to federal spending, health care, and judicial confirmations.
Policy positions
This section describes the federal issues a Texas senator votes on and points to Talarico's campaign for his own positions. We do not put a specific position in a candidate's mouth without a source.
Public education
Education is a state responsibility in Texas, and the House votes on school funding every session. In the U.S. Senate, the federal role is smaller and runs through funding programs and civil-rights enforcement. Talarico's campaign is the source for his own education proposals.
The economy and jobs
Pew Research Center's September 28–October 4, 2026 survey found that 84 percent of voters call the economy very important to their vote. The Senate votes on federal spending, taxes, and trade. Talarico's campaign is the source for his own economic proposals.
Health care
The Senate votes on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. Talarico's campaign is the source for his own health-care proposals.
Abortion
Abortion law is now set mainly by states, but the Senate votes on federal legislation and on judicial nominees. Talarico's campaign is the source for his own position.
Elections and democracy
Senators vote on federal election law, and the chamber confirms judges who hear election cases. Talarico's campaign is the source for his own position.
The 2026 race
Talarico faces Republican Ken Paxton, who has been Texas attorney general since 2015 and served in the Texas Senate before that. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The Texas voting guide lists registration and early-voting deadlines.
The seat matters nationally. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats and Democrats hold 47, so Democrats need a net gain of four to reach 51. Texas is one of the states both parties are watching as they calculate that path.
The central contrast in the race is experience: Paxton has held statewide office since 2015, while Talarico has served in the state House since 2019. Our Texas Senate race hub tracks the matchup, the people desk lists the candidates, and the Senate hub tracks the majority.
Polls and money
This profile does not publish poll numbers because we have not verified a specific survey for this race. Polling averages change daily; see the 270toWin Senate tracker.
Campaign finance figures change with each filing. The Federal Election Commission publishes reports at fec.gov.
Endorsements
No endorsements are listed on this page. Endorsements are listed as they are announced; see the campaign website. We name the endorser when the campaign or a major outlet confirms one.
Controversies and scrutiny
No controversy is documented in the source material for this profile. The public record is covered by the Texas House and the Associated Press, both linked below. We do not speculate about matters outside that record and will add sourced items if they are confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What office does James Talarico hold now?
He is a member of the Texas House and has served there since 2019. Before running for office, he worked as a public school teacher.
What party is James Talarico?
Democratic. He is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas.
What does James Talarico stand for?
His campaign materials are the source for his issue positions. This profile describes the federal issues the Senate handles and does not paraphrase a position without a sourced statement.
Who is James Talarico running against?
He is running against Republican Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general. See the Texas Senate race hub for the full matchup.
Sources
- Texas House of Representatives — official member directory. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
- Texas Legislature Online — bills and roll-call votes. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
- Associated Press — wire coverage. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
- 270toWin: 2026 Senate elections. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
- Federal Election Commission — campaign finance filings. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
Last updated October 27, 2026. This profile is updated as sourced information becomes available.