Texas Democrat REFUSES Denial After Racist Allegation

A Texas Democratic Senate candidate stands accused of making racially charged comments about a Black colleague, exposing the left’s hypocrisy on race and threatening to fracture the party ahead of a critical primary election.

Story Snapshot

State Representative James Talarico allegedly called former Congressman Colin Allred “a mediocre Black man” during a private conversation with a TikTok influencer
The controversy erupted just weeks before the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary, where Talarico faces Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett
Talarico refused to outright deny the allegations, instead claiming his words were “mischaracterized” and he was only critiquing Allred’s campaign methods
Political experts warn the scandal could devastate Black voter turnout in November, potentially costing Democrats a crucial Senate seat

Democrat Caught in Racial Controversy

State Representative James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, faces mounting scrutiny after TikTok influencer Morgan Thompson publicly accused him of describing former Congressman Colin Allred as “a mediocre Black man” during a late January conversation at a Plano rally. Thompson alleges Talarico made the comment while contrasting Allred with his current opponent, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, whom he allegedly praised as “a formidable, intelligent Black woman.” While Thompson provided circumstantial evidence including photos and text messages, she acknowledged having no recording of the conversation, leaving the exact wording disputed.

Talarico’s Non-Denial Response Raises Questions

Rather than issuing a clear denial, Talarico released a statement claiming he described Allred’s “method of campaigning” as mediocre, not the man himself. This parsing of words raises serious questions about what he actually said and why he won’t simply state he never called Allred “a mediocre Black man.” His careful wording suggests damage control rather than innocence. When caught in potentially damaging situations, honest people issue straightforward denials, not lawyerly explanations about what they supposedly meant. This echoes the left’s pattern of excusing their own racial insensitivity while ruthlessly attacking conservatives for far less.

Allred Condemns Divisive Tactics

Colin Allred, who withdrew from the Senate race in December 2025 after Crockett entered, responded forcefully to the allegations. In a video statement, Allred criticized the tactic of complimenting Black women while simultaneously tearing down Black men, calling it a tired playbook that people are sick of seeing. He pointedly suggested that Talarico’s use of the word “mediocre” might reflect something about Talarico himself. Allred’s measured but firm response demonstrates the seriousness of the allegations and their potential to divide the Democratic coalition along racial lines heading into a competitive general election.

Primary Divided Along Racial Lines

The controversy emerges against a backdrop of stark racial divisions in the Democratic primary. Polling shows most Black voters supporting Crockett while majorities of white and Latino voters back Talarico. This demographic split makes any perception of racial insensitivity particularly damaging for a candidate who will need strong Black turnout in the general election. Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University, warned that if Talarico wins while being perceived as having disrespected Black candidates and voters, he may struggle to generate the enthusiasm necessary to defeat his Republican opponent in November.

Exposing Progressive Hypocrisy on Race

This scandal perfectly illustrates the left’s double standard on racial issues. Democrats constantly accuse conservatives of racism for opposing progressive policies, yet when one of their own allegedly makes explicitly racial comments comparing Black candidates, the response is muted spin and semantic arguments. Talarico’s defense centers on the absurd claim that calling someone’s campaign “mediocre” somehow got twisted into calling the person himself mediocre, as if voters can’t see through such transparent word games. Meanwhile, Republicans who have amplified these allegations are attacked for supposedly interfering in the Democratic primary, when all they’re doing is holding Democrats to their own stated standards on racial sensitivity.

The incident also highlights how the left’s obsession with identity politics inevitably turns inward, creating impossible situations where candidates must navigate discussions of “electability” without acknowledging the very racial and gender categories progressives themselves constantly emphasize. When Talarico supporters argue he’s more electable than Crockett, they’re implicitly suggesting voters prefer white men over Black women, yet admitting this reality conflicts with progressive orthodoxy. This is the trap Democrats built for themselves by making race the centerpiece of their political strategy.