Just days after Democrats posted major wins in Tarrant County, the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate in Texas is drawing new attention — fueled by a debate over race, social media, and campaign influence.
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Georgetown, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, are locked in an increasingly intense fight for the party’s nomination. The latest flashpoint came with a high-profile endorsement from former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, just one month before Election Day.
Allred publicly endorsed Crockett in a fiery social media video, inserting himself into the dispute after a Dallas-based TikTok influencer accused Talarico of making a racially charged remark during a private conversation.
In the video, Allred addressed the situation directly.
“It’s cold out here, and I have some steam coming off my head because I just finished my workout. I got some steam coming out of my ears, too,” Allred said.
The controversy began after influencer Morgan Thompson claimed Talarico referred to Allred as a “mediocre Black man” during a discussion of the primary.
“James Talarico told me that he signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable and intelligent Black woman,” Thompson said.
Allred said the allegation prompted him to get involved in the race.
“I wasn’t going to get involved in this race, but listen, don’t come for me unless I send for you. Okay, James?” Allred said.
Talarico denied the accusation in a written statement, saying the comment had been taken out of context.
“This is a mischaracterization of a private conversation. In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre – but his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race,” Talarico said.
Crockett also responded in writing, framing the dispute as a broader moment within the party.
“It’s unfortunate that at the start of Black History Month, this is what we’re facing. In former Congressman Colin Allred’s video, he drew a line in the sand. He made it clear that he did not take allegations of an attack on him as simply another day in the neighborhood,” Crockett said.
Political writer Gromer Jeffers, with The Dallas Morning News, said the situation highlights how social media influencers can shape political campaigns.
“New era, new age campaigns rely heavily on social media influences,” Jeffers said.
Jeffers noted that Thompson’s initial conversation with Talarico focused on some of his allies and on concerns about eliminating what they referred to as “woke” politics — something Thompson feared would mean pushing out Black political voices.
He said the episode underscores how quickly campaigns can be helped or hurt by online interactions.
“So many of these influencers have extraordinary access to not just the campaign, not just strategy, but also the candidate. And that’s what happened in this case,” Jeffers said.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face the Republican nominee in November. On the GOP side, the field includes Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.
The March primary election is less than a month away. Early voting begins in two weeks, ahead of Election Day on March 3.