James Talarico pledges $25 million for Black voter outreach during Houston town hall to secure Texas Democratic support.
James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, pledged to invest $25 million in Black voter outreach during a town hall in Houston on Sunday. The investment represents the largest such commitment in modern Texas history as Talarico seeks to solidify support from the state's Black community. During the event, Talarico addressed concerns regarding the Democratic Party's history of taking Black voters for granted. He fielded questions on voting rights, healthcare, and the administration's approach to diversity and equity. While many attendees expressed personal support, some, including content creator Kandice Webber, challenged Talarico to earn the "militant" Black Democratic vote by being more responsive to specific community needs. Talarico emphasized his commitment to listening, noting that winning Texas requires deep engagement with Black communities. He also asked supporters to show respect to U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, whom he defeated in the primary. Despite some skepticism from local leaders, recent polling shows 80% of likely Black voters favor Talarico over his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton.