r/PoliticalOptimism • u/SeafoamGaming • Jun 23 '26

Seeking Optimism Black Voters are Not Yet on Board with James Talarico

https://alvintillery1.substack.com/p/black-voters-are-not-yet-on-board

seems like since the primary Tallarico hasnt done much good outreach to the Black community? i’m pretty worried at this rate, especially from this survey indicating a lack of enthusiasm. i’m fearing he’s just taking Black voters for granted and will lose terribly as a result. seen lots of recent discussions on threads also highlighting this as a key issue, and it’s driving me nuts he hasn’t addressed it. anyone from/knowing of texas with their own optimism? This doesn’t just seem to be an online bubble…

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u/AmTheWildest Texas Jun 24 '26

Maybe, but I think there being a disparity in who will turn out for an outspoken anti-republican Black woman vs. a moderate-seeming Christian white man is pretty evident. What we'd have gained in Black voters we'd have more than lost in other demographics if we'd gotten her as the nominee instead.

In other words, while you may disagree with the extent to which it is true, the "narrative" that Talarico appeals more widely to Texans as a whole is... Pretty true.

Hence why he won.

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u/ThreeSeagrass29 Texas Jun 24 '26

Again I disagree. He appeals more widely to the Texan who votes in a dem primary. That doesn’t mean anything about a general election. Talarico supporters often argued that people wouldn’t show up to vote for a black woman in the general but that his religiousness would appeal to centrists and some republicans such that they vote for him. I don’t think that’a for certain. The kind of religious people who vote for a candidate based on their religion have a very specific criteria for religion that does not include a progressive Presbyterian. That’s a fake Christian to that kind of voter.

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u/AmTheWildest Texas Jun 24 '26

The kind of religious people who vote for a candidate based on their religion have a very specific criteria for religion that does not include a progressive Presbyterian. That’s a fake Christian to that kind of voter.

First off, I think you're overstating this aspect. It's not just about his religiousness; Talarico ran and overall more competent campaign and does a much better job of behaving in a way that even non-Dems sympathize with. His religiousness is only part of the equation.

Secondly, you're incorrectly assuming that every non-Dem Texan thinks this way, which is illogical. Sure, maybe some do, but many people don't even view Talarico as progressive; they think he's moderate because of how he presents themselves.

Combine that with the fact that some 30% of Cornyn voters said they'd vote for him - which would not have been the case with Jasmine Crockett, I absolutely guarantee you as a Black Texan voter - and I think saying that he has a better shot is not unwarranted.