Talarico Hints at Possible 2026 U.S. Senate Run

Texas state Rep. James Talarico hasn’t yet decided if he will run for the U.S. Senate, but he’s taken a key step to lay the groundwork.

Talarico, an Austin Democrat, registered the internet domain name “TalaricoForSenate.com,” which tells visitors it's “Launching Soon.”

Talarico, a pastor and former school teacher who has grown a sizeable social media following, said he hasn’t made any decisions yet and is focusing on the Texas Legislature's special session, which began Monday.

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Still, Talarico is facing growing pressure to join a potential Democratic primary field that already includes retired Houston astronaut Terry Virts and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas.

On Friday, Austin-based podcaster Joe Rogan had Talarico on his program, "The Joe Rogan Experience," to talk about how the lawmaker infuses his religious background into his politics and how he became a Democrat. Rogan went so far as to encourage Talarico to run for higher office, and soon.

“James Talarico, you need to run for President,” Rogan said. “We need someone who is actually a good person.”

Talarico, 36, told Rogan he does not view politics as a battle between right and left, but rather “much more as top versus bottom.”

"I just see how we are all pitted against one another," he said.

Talarico has been gauging his statewide appeal by traveling across Texas to share a similar message. Last month, he joined former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, for a rally in San Antonio. The trio is scheduled to hold another event Friday in Austin.

“There’s this groundswell across the state of Texas of Texans demanding more from their government, both in their state government and their national government,” Talarico said in an interview after that San Antonio rally about why 2026 looks like a good cycle for Texas Democrats.

Talarico, in speeches, says the Republican Party of today is trying to turn people against one another to distract the electorate.

“They want us to be afraid of immigrant moms and gay kids so we don’t notice they are abolishing the Department of Education, eliminating our health care and cutting taxes for themselves and their wealthy friends,” he said at the rally.

Democrats are eyeing the seat held by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican who has served since 2002. Cornyn appears politically vulnerable in recent GOP primary polling, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed to challenge him.},