Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett faced a surprising defeat in the Texas US Senate Democratic primary, losing to state House Representative James Talarico. Known for his straightforward approach and social media savvy, Talarico emerged victorious after the Associated Press called the race at 2:37 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Dubbed the ‘baby-faced assassin’ for his fierce debates with Republicans in the Texas state House, Talarico managed to outshine Crockett, who had gained notoriety for her confrontations with MAGA-aligned lawmakers. Addressing his supporters in Austin at 1 a.m. ET, Talarico stopped short of declaring victory but expressed optimism by stating, “Tonight the people of our state gave our country a little bit of hope, and a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.”

Talarico’s win potentially boosts Democratic prospects in a state that hasn’t seen a Democratic Senate victory in 38 years. Meanwhile, incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are headed for a heated runoff to decide the GOP nominee following Tuesday’s results. Republicans are concerned that Talarico, with his ‘progressive Christian’ image, may pose a greater challenge in the general election than Crockett, known for her fiery rhetoric against Republicans. Confusion arose in Dallas due to changes in voting precincts driven by Republicans, causing polling stations in Dallas County to initially extend their hours by two hours on Tuesday night. However, the Texas Supreme Court later ordered that votes cast after 7 p.m. should be separated.

Around 10:30 p.m. ET, Crockett appeared at her election night event in Dallas, telling supporters, “We’re not going to have election results tonight, in my opinion,” and claimed that voters had been disenfranchised. “Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do, and they specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why,” she asserted. Crockett announced she would not return to the stage. Talarico echoed her concerns when he addressed his supporters later, as it became evident he would emerge as the winner, given the remaining votes in Dallas wouldn’t be enough for Crockett to catch up. “Every vote must be counted, every voice must be heard,” Talarico emphasized. “The voter suppression in my home county and in Congresswoman Crockett’s home county highlights the importance of this moment,” he added. “This movement is about whether the people will hold the power in this state and in this country.”

Crockett, 44, was a late entry to the primary race, filing paperwork in December, just before the state’s deadline. She entered the contest race after the boundaries of her House district were changed to more heavily favor a GOP candidate. It was part of the Texas Republicans’ broader scheme to redistrict the state to target five Democratic seats, so the Republicans have a better chance of retaining their majority in the House of Representatives. Crockett enjoyed a much higher national profile than Talarico, becoming one of the Democrats whom President Donald Trump takes constant swings at. She created a viral moment when she tussled with now former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling the Georgia Republican a ‘bleach blonde, bad built, butch body’ at a Congressional hearing in May 2024. The congresswoman also earned some high-profile endorsements, including that of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who recorded a robocall on Crockett’s behalf last week, CNN reported. Rapper Cardi B endorsed her in an Instagram post last week as well.

The polls conducted in January and early February showed her with a significant advantage, but as Election Day neared, Talarico had taken a lead. The final Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey showed Talarico five points ahead – 52 percent to 47 percent – showing strength among white, Latino, male and younger voters. Women only favored Crockett barely – 51 percent to Talarico’s 48 percent – inside the poll’s plus or minus 3.3 percent margin of error. Crockett, a black woman, did receive an overwhelming share of the black vote. At the same time, a poll from the University of Texas at Tyler, also released Monday, showed Crockett with a double-digit lead. An aide to Talarico predicted to the Daily Mail that his candidate would ultimately win the race by five points. Talarico, 36, announced his Senate bid in September, giving him a three-month head start.

However, when Crockett entered the race, Talarico acknowledged: ‘We had an asteroid hit our campaign,’ he told the New Yorker. Still, he was able to amass 22,000 volunteers and appear at 500 events, at the cost of $20 million, the aide said. Talarico was also outspending Crockett on TV and online ads by a 17-to-1 margin, the New Yorker said. His campaign made social media the No. 1 priority, and he trailed only former President Barack Obama and Harris in engagement according to one analysis, the magazine also reported. The Texas state House member was able to differentiate himself from the party of President Joe Biden by criticizing the former President on the border, touting the benefits of oil and gas production in the state, and being pro-law-and-order, the aide said. Trump has used all three issues to his advantage in his White House races against Democrats. While Talarico bashed billionaires, like the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party, he also pushed back against cancel culture, a big-tent approach that could attract both liberals and moderates, the aide also explained. Talarico is on leave from seminary school and hasn’t been shy about his Christian faith. He had some viral moments too – and one more recently than Crockett.

CBS’ cancellation of his sit-down with the Late Show host Stephen Colbert, over Colbert’s objections, shone the national spotlight on the Texas House member last month. He also went on Joe Rogan’s podcast in July, leaving the popular manosphere host impressed. ‘You need to run for President,’ Rogan told Talarico mid-interview. Ahead of Election Day, polling showed that Talarico was the stronger general election candidate than Crockett, as Republicans contend with their own contentious Senate primary. While Democratic Representative Beto O’Rourke came less than three points from unseating Republican Senator Ted Cruz in 2018, this race is being viewed as the Democrats’ best shot at turning a long-held GOP seat red. But it still could be a pipe dream, as Texas hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since 1988.