Talarico works to reach Black voters in his bid to win a US Senate seat as a Democrat in Texas

James Talarico, a Democrat running for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, is focusing on reaching Black voters to defeat Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico, who is white, has been working to address concerns raised by Black constituents during a town hall in Houston. One audience member, Juli McShay, a political science professor, expressed disappointment that his campaign had not yet taken action to engage Black voters despite his ideas.

Talarico acknowledged the need for patience and urgency in his outreach efforts. The candidate has announced a $25 million investment to specifically target Black voters in Texas and has received endorsements from the Congressional Black Caucus and other elected leaders. He has also visited Black churches, businesses, and media shows in the area.

Despite initial strong support from Black voters, Talarico has faced criticism for not addressing online harassment of fellow Democratic candidate Jasmine Crockett. Talarico responded by urging supporters to refrain from mentioning Crockett's name. As the election approaches, Talarico's outreach efforts are crucial in winning over Black voters and overcoming any remaining wariness from voters like Edward Richard, who said he may support Talarico but wants to see more concrete actions from the candidate.