A 'mediocre' comment has put Talarico's Texas Senate campaign in the hot seat

Texas Senate Primary Sparks Controversy Over Racial Comments

The Texas Democratic Senate primary has recently ignited a fiery debate, thanks to an influencer’s claim that state Rep. James Talarico referred to a former opponent as a “mediocre Black man.” Talarico has vehemently denied this allegation, labeling it a “mischaracterization” of a private conversation.

The accusation came from Morgan Thompson, known as @morga_tt on TikTok, who posted a video on Sunday alleging that Talarico told her after a January 12 town hall meeting in Plano, Texas, that he had “signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable, intelligent Black woman.” This statement was reportedly aimed at former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), who withdrew from the Senate race in December, just as Rep. Jasmine Crockett entered the fray. Both Allred and Crockett are Black; Talarico is white.

In response, Talarico clarified his remarks, stating, “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.”

Thompson, in a follow-up video, admitted she had no recording of their conversation but presented evidence of her contact with Talarico’s campaign, including a photo with him from the event and texts exchanged with a campaign staffer regarding their meeting. Although she had previously endorsed Talarico, she has since shifted her support to Crockett.

In an interview with POLITICO prior to Talarico’s statement, Thompson expressed her awareness that the absence of a recording might lead to skepticism regarding her claims. Yet, she felt compelled to voice her concerns “given the nature of everything.” She declined to provide details about the campaign staffer she communicated with, leaving POLITICO unable to verify their affiliation with the campaign.

This controversy adds another layer of complexity to a primary characterized by sharp racial divides, with polls indicating that most Black voters are leaning towards Crockett, while majorities of white and Latino voters are favoring Talarico.

Allred responded directly to Talarico’s remarks, saying, “James, if you want to compliment Black women, just do it. Just do it. Don’t do it while also tearing down a Black man.” He further suggested that Talarico’s choice of the word “mediocre” might reflect insecurities about his own campaign.

Crockett, commenting on Allred’s video response, remarked that he “drew a line in the sand,” emphasizing that his reaction was not only about him but also about standing up for all individuals who have faced derogatory comments in a politically charged atmosphere.

Thompson’s video also referenced her discontent with Talarico’s campaign fundraising strategies, particularly the involvement of Democratic strategist James Carville, who has advocated for a shift away from “woke” politics. Having previously worked with Talarico’s campaign as part of a content creator outreach initiative, Thompson now aligns herself with Crockett.

This incident is merely the latest chapter in a series of online controversies surrounding the primary. Last month, hosts of the popular podcast “Las Culturistas” faced backlash for discouraging donations to Crockett, with their comments deemed by some as racist and misogynistic. The hosts later issued apologies, highlighting the sensitivity and complexity of discussions regarding identity politics within Democratic circles.

A spokesperson for Allred, Sandhya Raghavan, articulated that his reaction to Talarico’s alleged comments reflects a broader frustration. “When a former NFL player, civil rights attorney, and former congressman can be dismissed as ‘mediocre,’ it reveals the impossible standards Black candidates are held to,” she stated. “Colin refused to accept that disrespect in silence — and in doing so, he stood up for every Black professional who has had their qualifications unfairly dismissed.”