The Josh Marshall Podcast Senator Talarico?
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Mar 4, 2026 They break down Texas primary shockers, a surprising Democratic primary victory, and an ugly Republican runoff fight. They unpack Trump’s looming endorsements and how they reshape GOP dynamics. They shift to a sudden U.S.-Iran confrontation and debate the political and strategic fallout. Short, punchy takes on money, messaging, and what these fights mean for 2026.
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Texas GOP Primary Exposed MAGA Strength
- Texas Republican primary results exposed a deep split: two MAGA-aligned challengers combined for roughly 60% while incumbent John Cornyn only reached about 40%.
- Kate Riga noted high turnout and vote-splitting forced a runoff, amplifying the power of hard-right voters later in the year.
How Tallarico Built A Cross-Demographic Edge
- James Tallarico won the Democratic primary outright by appealing to white and Hispanic voters while Jasmine Crockett dominated Black voters but underperformed in big cities.
- Kate Riga cited precinct chaos in Dallas and Tallarico's multi-demographic appeal as decisive.
Trump Endorsement May Not Control Paxton
- Trump’s imminent endorsement could force Ken Paxton to drop, but Paxton may ignore Trump because his political future relies on leaning into MAGA support.
- Kate Riga emphasized Paxton's willingness to be a rogue actor rather than a party loyalist.