Texas Democratic primary fractures over race claims, ‘mediocre’ accusations

Heated racial rhetoric is heating up in Texas this primary season, as Democratic contenders lean toward identity-focused messaging that Republicans say is divisive and clinical.Vigilantism at its worst“.

Texas Democrats head into primary season with intra-party fighting that increasingly extends to race and identity. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who is running for Senate, suggested racism was to blame if she lost, while former Rep. Colin Allred accused Crockett’s rival and Austin state Rep. James Talarico of calling him a “Average black man“In a political dispute affecting races in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“These disgusting comments are vigilantism at its worst and the silence is deafening for Democrats,” Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Craft said of recent rhetoric coming out of Texas in recent months.

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Texas State Rep. James Tallarico, D-Travis, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, shake hands. (Bob Demerich/Getty Images)

Crockett, who is running for Senate to replace Republican Senator John Cornyn, gave a fiery response.

“Do you think I didn’t know I was a Black woman when I woke up and decided to run for U.S. Senate? Do you think I didn’t keep that in mind and make sure we had enough space to explain that?”

Racially themed clashes have erupted in recent weeks as Democrats eye high-profile races and try to energize blue voters in the red state.

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“Look no further than the Senate primaries to see how the woke mind virus has spread like wildfire through the ranks of Texas Democrats. James Talarico spent the past week apologizing for his ‘white privilege,’ and Jasmine Crockett takes a page from Kamala Harris“Rules the game by proactively blaming racism and sexism for why she lost,” Kraft told Fox News Digital.

And just this month, Democratic Rep. Gene Wu, the Texas House minority leader, sparked backlash over a resurfaced clip from a 2024 interview in which he described white Americans as “oppressors” of “non-whites.”

“There’s a feeling that ‘America really only belongs to white people,’ that a lot of people believe that God gave America for white people to rule, and that any time immigrants and minorities make progress in this country, it’s seen as an insult to them,” Wu, of Houston, said in 2024. “Defining America” podcast. With Antonio Vargas.

Wu, who was born in Guangzhou, China, added that Latinos, Asians and Black Americans — “everyone” — remained divided because powerful forces spent time and money ensuring they were not united. Instead, he said, these groups are led to see each other as competitors even though they share the same oppressor, and he claimed that oppression “comes from one place.”

He continued: “I always tell people the day the Latino, African American, Asian and other communities realize that they share the same oppressor, is the day we start winning, because we are the majority in this country now.” “We have the ability to take control of this country and do what is needed for everyone and make things fair.”

The clip sparked quick condemnation from Texas citizens, as it was circulated online, including the Republican senator. Ted Cruz “The Democratic Party is built on bigotry,” he said.

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Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu attends a press conference at the conclusion of a House meeting on August 18, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Allred recently told former Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison of South Carolina on his podcast that Tallarico He made another insulting comment about him privately while the former Tennessee Titans linebacker was still a candidate in the Senate race.

Allred has since withdrawn and is seeking the newly drawn 33rd Congressional District near Dallas. The Metroplex’s current 33rd District is represented by Democratic Rep. Mark Veasey.

“He said some things to me that I didn’t like. He told me before he got into the race that he thought he would be a better candidate because he didn’t have family, and that … he could spend more time campaigning,” Allred said.

“You know, Jimmy, it’s like I didn’t know my father, so all I cared about was being a father to my two boys, right? I was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m running because of my family.’

A TikTok influencer named Morgan Thompson originally claimed that Allred made the “humble black man” comments, recounting the conversation from a Talarico rally in Plano.

“James Tallarico told me he registered to run against a mediocre black man, not a formidable, intelligent black woman,” Thompson said, adding that she now supports Crockett.

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Allred claimed that Talarico said he “would be a better candidate because he had no family.” (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP; Bob Demerich/Texas Tribune/Bloomberg)

Talarico issued a statement shortly after calling the situation a “mischaracterization of a private conversation” and said he was talking about Allred’s “campaign method” and not his life.

“I would never attack him based on race,” Tallarico said. “As a Black man in America, Congressman Allred had to work twice as hard to get where he is now,” Tallarico said. “I understand how my criticism of the Congressman’s campaign could be interpreted in light of the painful legacy of racism in this country, and I care deeply about the impact my words have on others.” Texas Tribune.

Tallarico recently announced that It raised $7.4 million In the first six weeks of the quarter in his matchup against Crockett.

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He did not respond to a request for comment. Crockett’s campaign also did not respond to an inquiry left in her campaign mailbox, which is separate from her official congressional office due to the Hatch Act.

Fox News Digital’s Mark Tamasco contributed to this report.