The 2026 midterm elections officially began on March 3 with primary elections held in Texas, North Carolina, and Arkansas.
The Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate in Texas have garnered national attention, with a combined $110 million spent on campaigns.
For Democrats, Texas Rep. James Talarico and his populist message defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who had already gained national recognition for her violent battles with other members of Congress.
The race is not over for Republicans. No candidate received more than 50% of the vote, leaving incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and embattled state Attorney General Ken Paxton in a runoff on May 26.
What does President Donald Trump say about these candidates? Here’s what you need to know.
President Trump does not support Republican candidates
Ahead of the March 3 election campaign, it is notable that President Trump did not endorse any candidate in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.
On March 4, Trump posted on Truth Social hoping to avoid a runoff.
“The Republican primary for United States Senate in Great Texas cannot be allowed to continue any longer in the interest of our party and our country,” the post said. “I will be announcing my support shortly, but I will be asking candidates who do not support me to withdraw from the race immediately! Is that fair?”
He also said the two Republicans ran a “great race.”
What does President Trump say about James Talarico?
The March 4 post called Talarico a “radical leftist opponent who is easy to defeat.”
Talarico is a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian who practiced affordability. Part of his campaign was to reach out to Republicans across the aisle.
“The biggest divide in our politics is not left versus right, but up versus down,” he said.
Earlier this year, an interview with Stephen Colbert gained national attention after late-night comedian Stephen Colbert criticized CBS for blocking Talarico’s corner. (CBS denied interfering with the interview and explained that the broadcast may have violated the FCC’s equal time rules.)
“I think Donald Trump is worried that he’s trying to flip Texas,” Talarico said in an interview posted on YouTube. “This is a party that has opposed cancel culture. And this is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top.”
Contributors: Jay Stahl, Kathryn Palmer, Phillip M. Bailey, Taijuan Moorman america today
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), blue sky and TikTok.
