Barack Obama appeared with James Talarico in Austin as the Democratic Senate nominee works to repair weakness with Black voters after a contentious primary.
Former President Barack Obama appeared with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico in Austin on Tuesday, giving the nominee a high-profile assist as he works to strengthen support among Black voters after a divisive primary fight.
The stop came after Talarico defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic Senate primary despite Crockett’s strong performance with Black voters, according to Fox News. Talarico’s coalition was built more heavily on support from white and Latino Democrats, leaving a clear political challenge for the general-election campaign in a state Democrats have struggled to win statewide.
Obama joined Talarico at Taco Joint, described in the report as one of the candidate’s favorite local restaurants. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat running for governor against Gov. Greg Abbott, also appeared at the campaign stop. “Do you know our outstanding next governor and senator?” Obama asked patrons at one table, according to Fox News, citing The New York Times.
The Austin appearance also put renewed attention on a controversy from the primary. Talarico faced criticism after Morgan Thompson, a political commentator and former supporter, accused him in a video of saying he had entered the race expecting to run against “a mediocre Black man,” referring to Rep. Collin Allred, rather than “a formidable and intelligent black woman,” referring to Crockett.
Allred amplified the accusation in a video on X, saying he had “steam coming out my ears” and arguing that Talarico should not praise Black women while “tearing down Black men.”
Talarico disputed Thompson’s account in a statement to The New York Times, as quoted by Fox News, calling it a “mischaracterization.” He said, “In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre. I would never attack him on the basis of race.”
With Obama’s appearance, Talarico’s campaign is seeking help from one of the Democratic Party’s most recognizable figures at a moment when the nominee’s path depends not only on unifying primary voters but also on expanding appeal in a difficult statewide race. The next test is whether the former president’s intervention helps ease concerns that surfaced during the primary or simply underscores the work Talarico still has to do.
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