Former Vice President Kamala Harris offered Democratic state representative James Talarico her “full support” after endorsing Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) in the Texas Democratic Senate primary.
Despite backing the wrong horse, Harris voiced satisfaction with the Tuesday primary, saying results showed the party was “energized like never before” and ready to “achieve something historic this fall.”
“I congratulate James Talarico for his win, and the inspiring campaign he continues to build. I appreciate that he is making the case for the kind of civic renewal our country needs. I offer him my full support in the months ahead,” she said, urging all Democrats to unite behind the nominee.
Harris presaged the endorsement by acknowledging Crockett’s loss, praising her campaign, and saying she had a “bright future.”
“I want to salute my dear friend, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. She waged this campaign with the trademark fierceness that has defined her career so far. I am grateful for her leadership and the support she has provided me over the years, including as co-chair of my presidential campaign. She has a bright future, and I am looking forward to the leadership she will bring to the fights ahead,” she said.
Harris endorsed Crockett late in the race, recording a robocall urging Democrats to vote for her just one week before the Tuesday primary.
“Texas has the chance to send a fighter like Jasmine Crockett to the United States Senate,” she said in the call. “Jasmine has the experience and record to hold Donald Trump and his billionaire cronies accountable.”
The Democratic primary between Crockett and Talarico was one of the highest-profile in the country, driving national attention and millions in donations. It pitted two competing images against each other: Talarico focused his campaign around his Christian faith, and Crockett focused on her progressive record and firebrand image.
Race featured prominently in the campaign. Crockett repeatedly accused Talarico, explicitly and implicitly, of racism. A scandal erupted earlier last month when a liberal content creator said that Talarico called former Texas Democratic Rep. Colin Allred a “mediocre black man,” contrasting him with Crockett, who Talarico described as a “formidable, intelligent Black woman.” Allred gave his full endorsement to Crockett in response.
“If you want to compliment black women, just do it. Just do it,” Allred said in his video endorsement. “Don’t do it while also tearing down a black man. OK? We’ve seen that play before. We’re sick and tired of it. We’re tired of folks using praise for black women to mask criticism for black men.”
Talarico claimed the content creator mischaracterized the conversation, saying he had only described Allred’s campaigning as mediocre, not the former candidate himself.
JAMES TALARICO BESTS JASMINE CROCKETT IN TEXAS SENATE PRIMARY
The primary drew a record turnout in early voting, with 665,664 Democrats casting their vote in the first week.
Harris’s endorsement failed to swing the pendulum in Crockett’s favor — with over 95% of votes counted, Talarico had 52% to Crockett’s 46%. Talarico won by over 150,000 votes.