Jasmine Crockett, James Talarico vie for Democratic Senate nomination for U.S. Senate

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It is 15 days from the start of early voting in the March primary.

One of the races at the top of the ballot is the U.S. Senate race. There are eight Republicans on the ballot, and three Democrats, including two who currently hold elected office. Both spoke with ABC13 about the primary and the challenges they face campaigning in a large state.

Jasmine Crockett is a two-term member of Congress and former state representative running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. She is well-known for her outspoken stance on issues. She is a progressive who said she's connecting with Texans across the state, in cities and the rural parts of Texas.

"When you're talking about running in a state like Texas, we're not really like one state. We're like five different states in one," she said. "Affordability is number one. What it looks like looks different. When I talk to my farmers and ranchers, they're absolutely concerned about whether they'll be able to keep their farms and ranches."

James Talarico is less known across the state. He is a former teacher and state representative, and is working to introduce himself to voters.

"I think there is a lot of momentum behind our campaign," he told ABC13. "People are really hungry for leaders who are going to take on this broken, corrupt political system. I've got my work cut out for me. I have got to introduce myself to voters all over the state. Houston alone, getting to know everybody in this big city is a challenge. I'm trying to get out there in every corner of Texas."

While Crockett puts the economy atop voters' concerns, James Talarico says it's the government itself.

"We don't have a government of, by, and for the people anymore," he said. "We have a government of, by, and for the billionaires."

Money is part of the process, nonetheless, and both candidates have raised substantial sums to compete in a state as big as Texas.

According to the latest election filings for the 2025 calendar year, Talarico has more than seven million dollars on hand heading into the primary's final weeks. Crocket has more than $5.6 million. The third Democrat, Ahmad Hassan, has raised a little more than $200,000 according to FEC filings.

"The environment is ripe for a change because people are frustrated, no matter if you're a democrat, republican, or independent, and if you're in the state of Texas, you know that the Republicans control every lever of government," Crockett said.

Whoever wins will face the Republican primary winner. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Congressman Wesley Hunt are the most well-funded of the eight candidates.

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