Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas conceded the Texas Democratic primary for Senate early Wednesday morning to James Talarico, the state representative who has emerged as a rising star in the party.
Ms. Crockett, who has a large following on social media, issued a call for Texas Democrats to unite behind Mr. Talarico in a general election that will pit him against either Senator John Cornyn or Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general. The two Republicans advanced to a runoff to be held in late May.
“This morning I called James and congratulated him on becoming the Senate nominee,” Ms. Crockett said in a statement released by her campaign. “Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”
Ms. Crockett told The New York Times that she did not connect with Mr. Talarico but left him a voice mail message and was returning to Washington.
Ms. Crockett’s quick concession and endorsement of Mr. Talarico avoid an ugly situation for Texas Democrats, who feared that a contested race after Primary Day would damage their chances in the general election. Mr. Talarico now faces the task of uniting what proved to be a racially polarized Democratic electorate that split between him, who is white, and Crockett, who is Black.
Reid J. Epstein is a Times reporter covering campaigns and elections from Washington.
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