Takeaways from the first elections of the 2026 midterm campaigns

"By rallying behind Talarico, the party sided with someone who pledged to change Washington while finding consensus. The 36-year-old state representative's win over Crockett cements his status as a rising star and will likely make him one of Democrats' most prominent candidates this year. He campaigned with denunciations of 'politics as a blood sport' and an insistence that people want 'a return to more timeless values of sincerity and honesty and compassion and respect.'"

"That was in contrast to Crockett, who gained national fame with her fiery style and unabashed antagonism of Trump and other Republicans. Indeed, the biggest differences between Talarico and Crockett largely hinged on style rather than policy. Crockett argued that Democrats need to focus on energizing their base, betting that motivated voters in metropolises like Houston and Dallas could swamp Republicans."

The 2026 midterm campaign began with primary elections in Texas, Arkansas, and other states. Texas Republicans advanced Sen. John Cornyn to a runoff against state attorney general Ken Paxton, while Democrats chose state Rep. James Talarico as their Senate candidate over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Talarico, a 36-year-old rising political star, campaigned on consensus-building and traditional values like sincerity and compassion, contrasting with Crockett's fiery, confrontational style. Despite stylistic differences, both candidates shared similar policy positions. Political analysts suggest North Carolina's Senate elections may ultimately prove more decisive for determining which party controls the Senate majority than the high-profile Texas contests.

Read at Boston.com