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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

What Democrats need to do to flip Texas, and how Republicans can hang on

Talarico won the Democratic primary and faces the task of uniting the party ahead of November.

What Democrats need to do to flip Texas, and how Republicans can hang on
Image · The Boston Globe

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Outlet credibilityThe Boston Globe83/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026
tl;dr

James Talarico’s Democratic primary win sets up a campaign to flip a Texas Senate seat, while John Cornyn and Ken Paxton head toward a Republican runoff. The article examines how party unity and a possible Trump endorsement could shape both contests.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
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NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Talarico in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Talarico’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

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Democratic Senate candidate and Texas primary winner

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate in a runoff against John Cornyn

Paxton's version of this story ↗
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican senator facing Ken Paxton in a runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Texas representative and former Democratic Senate candidate

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President of the United States; potential endorser in the Republican runoff

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader supporting Cornyn’s prospects in the runoff

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate minority leader commenting on Talarico’s primary victory

Kamala Harris
Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)

Former vice president who supported Crockett during the primary

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