A high-stakes Texas primary exposed the Democratic Party’s fault lines

State Representative James Talarico, a Democrat from Texas and US Senate candidate, speaks during a "Take Back Texas" campaign event at Stable Hall in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, March 1, 2026. | Christopher Lee / Bloomberg via Getty Images

One thing was clear before James Talarico’s win over Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Senate Democratic primary Tuesday night. This contest wouldn’t be about policy or ideology; it would be a choice between two very different types of “fighters,” decided along racially polarized lines.