The Texas Democrat acknowledges criticism that Democrats haven’t been doing enough to court Black voters.
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Senate candidate James Talarico (D) of Texas announced an expansion to his Black voter outreach Friday, aiming to reach those who largely went for his opponent, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, ahead of the primary.
Three Black political operatives, Aisha McClendon, Delilah Agho-Otoghile and Cliff Walker, will join as senior advisers in Talarico’s campaign focusing on efforts to court more Black voters. The efforts will include faith- and youth-based outreach. Bryson Gillette, Foston International Communications and Advantage Communications Group — all Black-owned firms — will lead paid communications efforts.
Public polls show Talarico enjoys strong favorability among Black voters, polling ahead of other Democratic statewide candidates and the party as a whole. One July poll by the Texas Politics Project found his support stronger among Black voters than past Democratic candidates Beto O’Rourke and Colin Allred at the same point in their campaigns.
Still, several prominent Black leaders expressed concern earlier this year that Texas Democrats assume Black voters will turn out while getting little in return. Crockett and 2024 Democratic candidate Allred, both of whom are Black, have openly clashed with Talarico and have declined to take active roles helping his campaign. Crockett has said she would focus on campaigning for other candidates downballot.
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Talarico has worked to overcome frustrations, hosting town halls in Black neighborhoods and churches, and investing millions of dollars in community outreach.
“For too long, the Democratic Party has taken Black voters for granted — these investments show we’re not going to make that same mistake,” Talarico said in a statement Friday.
Texas has the largest Black population in the country at about 4.3 million.
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