The Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Texas is turning increasingly messy, with public feuds, racial accusations, and internal finger-pointing raising fresh questions about the party’s ability to mount a unified challenge in November.
What began as a competitive race for the Democratic nomination to take on Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has devolved into a series of personal attacks and controversies that some Democrats now fear are distracting from the bigger goal of winning statewide.
The latest flashpoint erupted this week when former Rep. Colin Allred, the party’s Senate nominee last cycle, accused state Rep. James Talarico of describing him as a “mediocre Black man.” The allegation surfaced after a TikTok user claimed Talarico made the remark during a private conversation last month. The influencer said she did not record the exchange but stood by her account.
Talarico strongly denied the accusation, saying his words were mischaracterized and that he was referring to Allred’s campaign strategy, not Allred personally. The damage, however, was immediate. Allred responded angrily and announced he would endorse Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, one of Talarico’s primary rivals.
“First of all, let me just give you some free advice, James,” Allred said in a video response. “If you want to compliment Black women, just do it. Just do it. Don’t do it while also tearing down a Black man.”
Crockett quickly released a statement backing Allred, noting that the controversy was unfolding at the start of Black History Month. While she did not mention Talarico by name, her move deepened the rift within the party.
Democratic strategists are openly warning that the infighting is becoming self-destructive. Texas Democratic consultant Joel Montfort said the party is losing focus at a critical moment.
“We’re taking our eye off the ball,” Montfort said. “But that this is what Democrats are very good at doing. … We become distracted and we start infighting over things that aren’t particularly beneficial to winning races.”
The primary has tightened in recent weeks, with debates over electability and tone taking center stage. Crockett, a former state lawmaker and civil rights attorney, is viewed by some Democrats as a risky nominee due to her sharp rhetoric and viral online exchanges. Those include referring to Gov. Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as “hot wheels,” and mocking Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene with a personal insult that circulated widely online.
That scrutiny has fueled accusations within the party that concerns about electability are really about race. During an appearance on “The View,” co-host Sunny Hostin suggested criticism of Crockett could be coded skepticism about whether a Black woman can win statewide in Texas.
Talarico rejected that idea, calling Crockett a friend and saying he would fully support her if she became the nominee.
Despite that public show of unity, tensions remain high. Punchbowl News reported that Crockett’s campaign is preparing attack ads against Talarico, though her team has not confirmed the report. Talarico responded by urging the race to remain positive and focused on records rather than personal attacks.
The turmoil comes after the candidates’ first debate, which was largely cordial, making the rapid descent into accusations all the more striking. With the March 3 primary approaching, Democrats now face a familiar problem: a bruising internal fight that risks weakening whoever emerges as the nominee.
As Montfort warned, negative attacks may energize a primary electorate, but they can come at a steep cost later.
“It can completely undermine their campaign,” he said. “You’ve got to be very careful what you do in the primary, because it can come back in the general with your real opponent.”
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