FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) 鈥� Democratic of Texas on Thursday urged supporters to look at experience in a heated U.S. Senate primary with state , who is riding a burst of wider attention in the race鈥檚 pivotal final stretch over his with late-night host Stephen Colbert.
The March 3 primary in Texas is the nation鈥檚 first big contest of the 2026 midterm elections, and with early voting already underway, Talarico and Crockett are ramping up their bids as some Democrats see increasing opportunity in November鈥檚 elections despite not having won a statewide race in Texas in more than 30 years.
Crockett rallied voters at multiple stops around Dallas, her hometown, and in Fort Worth, campaigning in the county where a Democrat last month pulled off in a heavily Republican district carried by President Donald Trump.
鈥淣ow, I鈥檓 not saying that this moment is easy, but at least ya鈥檒l know exactly how I operate in this moment on the federal level,鈥� Crockett told supporters in Fort Worth. 鈥淵ou know who I am. You know how I get down.鈥�
Talarico began his own statewide tour this week and had sat for an interview on Colbert’s show. But on Monday night, Colbert announced on the air that CBS lawyers had said the show couldn鈥檛 broadcast the interview over fears of running afoul of Trump administration regulators.
Talarico’s campaign said it raised $2.5 million in the 24 hours after the interview was pulled. Crockett said in an interview on MS NOW this week that it probably gave her opponent 鈥渢he boost he was looking for.鈥�
In Houston, Harris County Democratic Chair Mike Doyle said a bump for Talarico鈥檚 campaign in wake of the pulled interview was 鈥渦ndeniable.鈥�
鈥淲hether or not it pans out long-term, who knows?鈥� Doyle said.
Texas’ two hot Senate primaries
Both Crockett and Talarico built national profiles through before entering the Senate race last year. Talarico is known best for tying his positions to his Christian faith and often quoting Jesus, while Crockett鈥檚 best-know clips feature her publicly castigating Republicans.
Both are running for the seat held by four-term Republican Sen. who is facing the toughest race of his long political career in the primary against Texas Attorney General and U.S. Rep.
Democrats haven鈥檛 won a Senate race in Texas since 1988, but they see an opening this year to help boost their long-shot hopes of recapturing a Senate majority, especially if Republicans nominate Paxton, who is popular with MAGA voters but has had
鈥淚t was an honor to vote in this election. It was my name on the ballot,鈥� Talarico said after early voting this week in Austin. 鈥淏ut this is a movement that includes thousands of Texans. We are building a movement to take back our state and our country.鈥�
Why Colbert matters in Texas
Colbert said on Monday night that CBS lawyers had advised him not to broadcast the interview with Talarico, citing concerns that it would violate regulatory guidance from the Trump administration.
Talk shows have been exempt from the requirement to give candidates in a race equal time. Still, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, has questioned whether the exemption should continue. Online material is not subject to the rule and Colbert’s show posted the interview online, where as of Thursday it had racked up nearly 8 million views on YouTube.
Colbert and Talarico have portrayed CBS as bowing to pressure from the Trump administration, while CBS has said its lawyers merely gave 鈥渓egal guidance鈥� to Colbert’s show. Crockett has been on Colbert’s show previously and said posting the Talarico interview on YouTube was a 鈥済ood strategy鈥� for getting attention.
Crockett rallies supporters
In Fort Worth on Thursday, Crockett told supporters, 鈥淵ou cannot let up off the gas鈥� because democracy under Trump is 鈥渉anging on by a thread.鈥�
鈥淧eople want to know that it is not business as usual and that you are going to go to the mat because it matters,鈥� Crockett said. 鈥淧eople are mad.鈥�
Ivon Gonzalez, a 41-year-old registered nurse from Fort Worth who came to the event after voting early for Crockett, said she heard what happened with Talarico and the Colbert show but hasn鈥檛 watched the interview.
鈥淚 do think that he has a big following and he seemed like a good guy overall,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just want somebody with more grit, with more just fearlessness.鈥�
___
Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
