WASHINGTON — Sen.-elect James Talarico got his first taste of Capitol Hill this week as he and other freshmen Democrats arrived for orientation. Talarico left a Tuesday lunch with Senate Democrats saying he looks forward to working with his fellow Texan, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, and the rest of his new colleagues. “I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can over the last few days, but it’s ...

U.S. Sen.-elect James Talarico, D- Texas, arrives for orientation to the U. S Capitol Building on Nov. 9, 2026, in Washington, D.C..

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WASHINGTON — Sen.-elect James Talarico got his first taste of Capitol Hill this week as he and other freshmen Democrats arrived for orientation.

Talarico left a Tuesday lunch with Senate Democrats saying he looks forward to working with his fellow Texan, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, and the rest of his new colleagues.

“I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can over the last few days, but it’s certainly been a whirlwind,” Talarico told reporters before a staffer cut off questions.

Newly elected senators won’t be sworn in until January, but they face immediate tasks such as hiring staff, deciding which committee assignments to seek and learning the often-arcane workings of Congress.

Talarico is the first Democrat Texas has sent to the Senate since 1988. He defeated Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton by roughly 12 percentage points after an intense, high-profile race that set spending records.

The day after his historic victory, Talarico did a blitz of national media, appearing on morning news programs across the major broadcast networks.

Talarico followed the example of other Texans last weekend when he placed an “I voted” sticker on a memorial in Houston to Lorenzo Salgado, who was killed in July during an ICE pursuit.

He also made a cameo during the cold open of “Saturday Night Live.”

After James Austin Johnson, portraying President Donald Trump, used the Republican nickname “Talafreako,” the senator-elect walked into frame.

“That’s Senator Talafreako,” Talarico said.

Navigating the Senate

After arriving in Washington, Talarico met Monday with the man he’s replacing, longtime Sen. John Cornyn, who lost the Republican runoff in May to Paxton.

Cornyn told reporters after the meeting he and Talarico have very different political perspectives but called his successor a “decent, honest person.”

He predicted Talarico will face challenges operating in a Democratic majority while representing a state Cornyn said still leans conservative.

“I don’t think ideologically or philosophically the state has shifted,” Cornyn said. “So it’s going to be interesting to see how he conducts himself.”

That includes finding ways to strike a balance between the demands of his party’s leaders and the feelings of everyday constituents back home.

“I told him Schumer is a very relentless and smart and demanding leader and my guess is he’s going to have to break with the leadership at some critical junctures in the future if he wants to get reelected, so it’s going to be fascinating,” Cornyn said. “But he seems like a decent human being, and I think he’s entitled to a chance.”

Talarico has declined to offer support for Chuck Schumer to retain his position as Democratic leader next year, saying he wants to first hear from anyone else interested in the job.

After 42 years in elected office, Cornyn said he’s likely to return to practicing law in the private sector.

“I always say that people who’ve left here look better rested, happier and are more prosperous,” Cornyn said. “I’d like to be all three.”

Making connections

Talarico has been hailed by his new Democratic colleagues who were happy to see Texas send one of theirs to the Senate for the first time in decades.

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., who is a Baptist pastor, said he was looking forward to welcoming Talarico, a seminarian, and “all the new clergy” joining Congress.

“God knows, Congress needs a lot of prayer,” Warnock said.

It remains to be seen how Talarico will work with Cruz, soon to be the state’s senior senator, who had been sharply critical of Talarico before the election.

Cruz called Talarico on election night to congratulate him on an “impressive” campaign.

Cruz said this week he will continue fighting against proposals he disagrees with, but is happy to work with Talarico on priorities benefiting Texas, such as bringing a space academy to the state.

He said Talarico also is welcome to join the pickup basketball games he regularly organizes.

“I don’t know if he plays ball or not,” Cruz said. “Maybe he has a wicked jump shot.”

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