DESOTO, Texas — James Talarico says his Senate campaign has reached its rowdy teenage years. To come of age in November, it will need strong enthusiasm and turnout among Black voters. After months of town halls, church visits and appearances at Black community events, the Democrat acknowledges his work to build support among that bloc is far from complete. He is trying to show Black Texans ...

James Talarico, D- Austin, during the Dallas County Democratic Party's 2025 Johnson-Jordan Dinner at Gilley's Dallas in Dallas on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.

Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

DESOTO, Texas — James Talarico says his Senate campaign has reached its rowdy teenage years. To come of age in November, it will need strong enthusiasm and turnout among Black voters.

After months of town halls, church visits and appearances at Black community events, the Democrat acknowledges his work to build support among that bloc is far from complete.

He is trying to show Black Texans that he understands their concerns and give more of them a reason to vote, even as Republicans look for ways to turn what he says against him.

"This campaign is an unruly teenager, and so there is so much growth still left," Talarico said during a recent town hall meeting with Black leaders and voters at Disciple Central Community Church in DeSoto. "We need to make sure that this campaign is reflective of the diversity of this beautiful state."

The stakes reach beyond Texas. The nationally watched race pitting Talarico, a state representative from Austin, against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton could decide which party controls the Senate.

In DeSoto, Talarico spent nearly two hours answering questions about voting rights, education and the economy. The event was part of a post-primary push to outline his campaign agenda, which continues Wednesday in Arlington with a speech focused on costs, child care and artificial intelligence.

Beyond policy, Talarico is looking to energize Latinos, young people, suburban women and LGBTQ Texans without alienating the independents and moderates he needs to break the GOP's three-decade grip on the Senate seat.

"He's walking a tightrope in trying to balance the diverse coalitions within the Democratic Party," said Michael O. Adams, a political scientist at Texas Southern University. "It's important for him to reach all voters, particularly those who may not be that enthusiastic about the election and content to sit it out on the sofa."

Talarico's outreach to Black voters, among the Democratic Party's most loyal constituencies, is unfolding on several fronts.

Moving past the Crockett divide

After winning the Democratic Senate nomination, Talarico moved to mollify supporters of his primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas. Some were disappointed by narratives from Talarico backers that an outspoken Black woman could not beat a Republican in November.

Crockett endorsed Talarico the day after her defeat but later told The Dallas Morning News that she had no plans to campaign with him or on his behalf. Her focus, she said, is promoting down-ballot Democrats. Some of Talarico's and Crockett's supporters are still sniping at each other on social media.

Gayle Douglas, a 60-year-old teacher from Lancaster who attended the DeSoto town hall, said she hoped Crockett would publicly campaign with Talarico.

"We can't come together unless all of us come together, and that includes her supporting this candidate," she said. "We're in a world of hurt now. It's only going to get worse if we come out of the midterms and we haven't been successful."

At the DeSoto meeting, the conversation had largely moved beyond Crockett and the primary. Her name was not mentioned, and every question focused on Talarico and the issues.

Voter turnout investment

Adams, the Texas Southern political scientist, says Talarico needs to boost enthusiasm among Black voters have for his campaign to have a chance against Paxton.

Talarico has pledged $25 million to get-out-the-vote efforts in Black neighborhoods and said: "We are putting our money where our mouth is. I believe in human-to-human, person-to-person organizing. That is how we win."

He is coordinating with local parties, statewide candidates, labor unions and allied organizations to expand the Democratic base.

Connecting on issues

In DeSoto, Talarico promised to help historically underserved communities build wealth, expand access to affordable health care and improve schools through better-paid teachers and early childhood education.

Talarico cited "maternal mortality" and "the attack on voting rights" among the issues his campaign must confront.

One town hall participant suggested a "New Deal-style program" that would put unemployed and underemployed people to work in their communities. Talarico called it a "brilliant idea."

"This work is too important for anyone's ego to get caught up in it," he said afterward. "This has to be about the state of Texas. This has to be about all of us."

Barbara Webb, a 71-year-old retired nurse from Dallas who attended the event, said she liked Talarico's message on education and mobilizing young voters.

"We need to move forward," she said. "There's no sense in us sitting back complaining about who won."

Republicans watching

Republicans are scrutinizing Talarico's promises as they try to portray him as out of step with Texas and weaken his standing with moderate and conservative voters.

A town hall participant noted that reparations had been provided to other groups harmed by racist policies, including Japanese Americans interned during World War II, and asked whether Talarico supported them for descendants of enslaved Black Americans.

Talarico said he was "committed to righting the wrongs of the past."

"Restoration, repairing past harms, is part of my faith tradition," he said. "It's part of the values I was raised with."

Talarico pointed to college tuition relief, homeownership grants and baby bonds as ways to help build wealth.

Republican National Committee spokesperson Zach Kraft later accused Talarico of "pandering to Black voters" and characterized his response as support for reparations.

Talarico did not commit to direct payments or a federal reparations program.

—Staff writer Sally Avila Edwards contributed to this story.