Jasmine Crockett concedes Senate primary race in Texas to James Talarico after suggesting vote was rigged

Jasmine Crockett.

In a closely-watched Democrat Senate primary race, Texas State Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett on Tuesday, kicking off the 2026 midterm elections. Talarico drew 53.05% of the vote to Crocket's 45.63%. On Wednesday morning, Crockett conceded the race. 

But Crockett's concession to Talarico came hours after she complained that the race had been rigged against her. The primary election result could mean an end to Crockett's political career as she decided to not to seek re-election for her House seat in order to fully commit to the senate race. 

Late Tuesday night, Crockett refused to accept the results and suggested the election against her fellow Democrat had been rigged -- by Republicans. "Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do. And, so, they specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why," Crockett told supporters Tuesday night, according to Fox News, even as she trailed Talarico by seven percentage points. "In my opinion, we will not know the election results overall tonight," she added.

But by Wednesday morning, Crockett had accepted the results and said she had called Talarico to congratulate him on the win. 

"With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominee," Crockett said in her concession statement, which was posted on X. "I'm committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot." 

Crockett has drawn no shortage of controversy during her term in office. Last March, as The Daily Caller notes, she disparaged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as "Governor Hot Wheels" as the two publicly debated immigration policies. Abbott is confined to a wheelchair and Crockett was widely criticized for the insult. Crockett has also referred to President Trump as "Temu Hitler."

Talarico's win will set up a November primary vote against the Republican nominee, which is likely to be Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn or Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who will face each other in a runoff election in May. 

Last year, around the time she was making wild statements and insults against political adversaries, Crockett released a 45-second campaign ad in which the camera was fixed on her while audio played soundbites of Trump reacting to her rising profile within the Democrat Party. Throughout the commercial, Crockett bats her eyelashes as Trump is heard calling her a "low IQ person." Watch that ad below.