A high-stakes Democratic Senate primary in Texas has intensified following controversy over a canceled television appearance, as two candidates battle for the opportunity to challenge a veteran Republican incumbent.
U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett made her case to voters Thursday by emphasizing her federal legislative experience as she faces off against state Representative James Talarico in the March 3 primary – the country’s earliest major contest leading up to the 2026 midterm elections.
The race gained unexpected national spotlight when The Late Show with Stephen Colbert decided not to broadcast a pre-recorded interview with Talarico, citing legal concerns from network attorneys about potential Trump administration regulatory issues.
“Now, I’m not saying that this moment is easy, but at least ya’ll know exactly how I operate in this moment on the federal level,” Crockett told supporters in Fort Worth. “You know who I am. You know how I get down.”
The interview controversy appears to have provided significant momentum for Talarico’s campaign, which reported collecting $2.5 million in donations within a day of the broadcast being canceled. Crockett acknowledged during a recent MS NOW interview that the incident likely gave her opponent “the boost he was looking for.”
Harris County Democratic Chair Mike Doyle confirmed the impact was substantial, calling the boost for Talarico’s campaign “undeniable,” though he questioned its lasting effects.
Both candidates gained recognition through popular social media content before launching their Senate bids last year. Talarico frequently incorporates his Christian beliefs and biblical references into his political messaging, while Crockett became known for her sharp public criticism of Republican officials.
The winner will face the victor of a competitive Republican primary featuring four-term Senator John Cornyn, who confronts his most challenging election yet against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt.
Texas Democrats haven’t captured a Senate seat since 1988, but party strategists believe this cycle presents their best opportunity in decades to help regain Senate control, particularly if Republicans select Paxton, who appeals to Trump supporters but carries significant legal baggage.
“It was an honor to vote in this election. It was my name on the ballot,” Talarico said after casting his early vote in Austin. “But this is a movement that includes thousands of Texans. We are building a movement to take back our state and our country.”
The television controversy emerged when Colbert announced Monday that CBS legal advisors recommended against airing the Talarico segment due to concerns about violating Trump administration regulatory guidance regarding equal time requirements for political candidates.
While talk shows typically receive exemptions from equal time rules, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump, has questioned whether such exemptions should continue. The interview was subsequently released on YouTube, where it accumulated nearly 8 million views by Thursday.
Both Colbert and Talarico characterized CBS’s decision as yielding to Trump administration pressure, while the network maintained its lawyers simply provided standard legal advice. Crockett, who has previously appeared on Colbert’s program, called the YouTube strategy effective for generating publicity.
During her Fort Worth campaign stop Thursday, Crockett urged supporters to maintain their intensity, warning that democracy faces serious threats under Trump’s presidency.
“You cannot let up off the gas” because democracy under Trump is “hanging on by a thread,” Crockett said. “People want to know that it is not business as usual and that you are going to go to the mat because it matters. People are mad.”
Ivon Gonzalez, a 41-year-old registered nurse from Fort Worth who attended Crockett’s event after voting early, acknowledged awareness of the Colbert situation but said she hadn’t viewed the interview.
“I do think that he has a big following and he seemed like a good guy overall,” she said. “I just want somebody with more grit, with more just fearlessness.”
