Obama’s outreach to Texas Democrats came Tuesday when he met with U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico in Austin, according to the Associated Press report. The former president met with Talarico and also lunched with Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, whose statewide nomination targets Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, campaign supporters said the gathering was intended to provide momentum heading into the next phase of the race.
The AP reported that the meeting took place at a taco shop in Austin, as Obama and the candidates sought visibility for their campaigns from a figure Democrats say they view as one of the party’s most widely liked leaders. The visit added to a broader effort Democrats are describing as a long-shot, statewide push for a party-to-party contest in a state that has been reliably conservative in recent elections.
Talarico had previously drawn national attention for his campaign’s progressive, Christian platform, according to the AP report. That profile, the report said, helped frame the Senate bid as part of a Democratic attempt to energize supporters even as statewide races remain difficult for the party.
The AP also described how Obama’s involvement with Talarico has come in multiple forms. It said Obama first mentioned Talarico months earlier on a podcast, calling him “terrific, really talented young man.” The report further said that Obama called Hinojosa in March to congratulate her on her campaign, a detail Hinojosa shared in a Facebook post.
The timing of Tuesday’s meeting arrives as Talarico prepares for a matchup that will depend on a Republican contest. The AP said that Talarico will face either Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton or incumbent Sen. John Cornyn after they compete in a Republican primary runoff on May 26.
For Democrats, the Senate race is tied to that outcome, with Talarico positioned as the party’s nominee while the Texas GOP decides which candidate he will challenge statewide.