Crockett, Talarico Face Off at Texas AFL-CIO U.S. Senate Debate

Texas AFL-CIO

24 Jan, 2026

Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar, state Rep. James Talarico, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Lorraine Montemayor pose for a photo following a debate at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention in Georgetown.

Photo Credit

Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune via POOL

GEORGETOWN, Texas – Today, the Texas AFL-CIO hosted the first debate between the two leading candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senator from Texas, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and Texas State Representative James Talarico, during its COPE Convention.

Now, union delegates will vote on a possible endorsement in the U.S. Senate race, as well as races across the state, on Sunday.

“This debate will help our union members — and workers across the state — determine who to support in the Democratic primary,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar. “We thank both Congresswoman Crockett and Representative Talarico for their participation. Now, the process turns to our union delegates who will vote on who to endorse in the primary.

“We’re in the fight for our lives. It’s workers versus billionaires, and we know which side we’re on. We’ll be supporting the candidates who support us.”

The debate featured three questions from Texas union members, including:

Cheryl Eliano, District 10 National Vice President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), based in Killeen
Calvin Mackie, 1st Business Agent for International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 24, based in Houston
Trevor Haas, District II Texas State Association of Letter Carriers Board member with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)

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The Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation consisting of more than 250,000 affiliated union members and advocates for working people in Texas. Learn more at texasaflcio.org