Obama Campaigns for Texas Senate Candidate Talarico in Austin

Former President Barack Obama appeared in Texas on Tuesday to rally Black voters behind Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.

Talarico faced challenges securing support from the Black community following a contentious primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas. Crockett dominated Black voters by a wide margin but lost the primary due to Talarico's strength among white and Latino Democrats.

Democrats face steep odds in Texas, yet Obama attended a campaign event for Talarico in Austin. He ordered tacos from the candidate's preferred spot, Taco Joint. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who is challenging Gov. Greg Abbott, also attended.

"Do you know our outstanding next governor and senator?" Obama asked patrons at one table, according to the New York Times.

Talarico's issues with Black voters peaked during the March primary against Crockett. He faced accusations of calling Rep. Collin Allred, D-Texas, "mediocre."

"James Talarico told me that he signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable and intelligent black woman," said Morgan Thompson, a political commentator and former Talarico supporter, in a video at the time.

Allred highlighted the matter in a video on X. He said he had steam "coming out my ears."

"I understand that James Talarico had the temerity and the audacity to say to a Black woman that he had signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, meaning me, not a formidable, intelligent, Black woman, meaning Jasmine Crockett," Allred said. He added that Talarico should not compliment Black women while "tearing down Black men."

"We've seen that play before. We're sick and tired of it," Allred said.

Talarico told the New York Times that Thompson's account was a "mischaracterization."

"In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre," he said in a statement. "I would never attack him on the basis of race."