FORT WORTH, TX — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico brought his “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” campaign tour to North Crowley High School on Monday evening, October 19, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of supporters as early voting officially began across Texas. The Austin state representative made Fort Worth a key stop in his statewide push to unseat Republican nominee Ken Paxton in one of the nation’s closely watched Senate contests. Supporters filled the venue, many holding “Talarico for Texas” signs, as the candidate addressed the crowd and worked to build momentum heading into the November 3 election.
The Fort Worth appearance came on a politically significant day, with Talarico and Paxton holding competing rallies in Tarrant County, a battleground that has shifted between Democrats and Republicans in recent elections. Talarico entered the final stretch of the campaign with encouraging fundraising numbers in the county, collecting approximately $730,000 from more than 2,500 individual donors during the third quarter, compared with roughly $304,000 raised by Paxton from about 570 donors. A recent University of Houston poll also showed a tight race, with Talarico leading 48% to 46%, a difference within the survey’s margin of error.
With early voting underway through October 30, both campaigns are fighting for every vote in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988. Talarico’s statewide tour continues through several major Texas cities before concluding in Austin on November 2. Exclusive Access was on the scene at North Crowley High School, capturing the energy, passionate supporters, and moments from a campaign rally that highlighted the growing intensity of Texas’ 2026 Senate race.
