Campaign

Obama backs Talarico in Texas

by Ashleigh Fields - 05/12/26 9:13 PM ET

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by Ashleigh Fields - 05/12/26 9:13 PM ET

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Former President Obama on Tuesday met with Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) in the Lone Star State to support his Senate campaign.

The former president met with Talarico and Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who is running for Texas governor, at a taco shop in Austin, according to The Associated Press.

The group went from booth to booth, greeting families to bolster support for their campaigns ahead of the general election, The Texas Tribune reported.

Talarico’s parents, sister and baby niece joined him at the restaurant near the University of Texas at Austin to help greet guests per the outlet.

Throughout their time at the local taco shop, Obama referred to both Hinojosa and Talarico as the Lone Star State’s “next governor and senator,” The Texas Tribune said.

Talarico won the Democratic nomination for the upper chamber in March and, if elected, would become the first party member to represent the state as a U.S. Senator since 1993.

The Democrat will either face off against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in November.

Polls show Talarico has gained more traction than his potential competitors.

In an April Texas Public Opinion Research survey, Talarico had 44 percent support from likely voters, compared to 41 percent for Cornyn.

Eleven percent of respondents say they’re undecided.

In a hypothetical match-up against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), the Democratic candidate’s advantage widens to 5 points, 46 percent to 41 percent, with just 9 percent of respondents undecided.

The former president’s impact resonated positively with voters who elected Govs. Mikie Sherill (D-N.J.) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) after he boosted them last year.

Talarico said he was thankful that Obama attempted to do the same in the Texas Senate race.

“Thank you for coming to Texas, Mr. President,” Talarico wrote in a Tuesday post on X.

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