Jasmine Crockett defeated by James Talarico in Texas Democratic Senate primary after hard fought race

State Rep. James Talarico topped Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in an expensive and fiercely contested Texas Senate Democratic primary that once again has the party dreaming of a big upset in November.

- By THOMAS BEAUMONT, WILL WEISSERT and BILL BARROW

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democratic U.S. candidate speaks during a primary election watch party in Dallas.

(Tony Gutierrez/AP)

Early March 4, Crockett conceded the Democratic primary in the Texas Senate race to Talarico. She called on the party to unify behind the state representative, who clinched the nomination overnight.

"Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person," Crockett said in a statement. "This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track."

Crockett's campaign had previously suggested that she would file a lawsuit over voting challenges in the primary. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a question about those plans.

Who Talarico will face depends on a May runoff between longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn and MAGA favorite Ken Paxton — a race expected to get increasingly nasty over the coming months and could hinge on whether or not President Donald Trump offers an endorsement.

No Democrat has won a statewide race in the reliably Republican state in over 30 years, but in a statement after his victory, Talarico proclaimed, "We're about to take back Texas."

Republicans head to round two

Cornyn, meanwhile, is seeking a fifth term but is facing a tough challenge from Paxton, the state attorney general. Cornyn hopes to avoid becoming the first Republican senator in Texas history to seek reelection and not be renominated.