Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas has long been a magnet for ambitious Democrats, but this election season its pews are noticing who has not shown up.
According to Politico, the 13,000-member congregation has become a central stage for Black political power in North Texas, a place where candidates routinely arrive to court voters, where Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) worships, and where her pastor, the Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, is now seeking to replace her in Congress.
Even former Democratic Senate hopeful Beto ORourke recently appeared there, urging attendees to register to vote and help push Texas leftward in November. Yet amid the steady stream of politicians, one name keeps coming up in conversations in the sanctuarys hallways and parking lots: James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, who has yet to make an appearance at this influential Black church.
For a candidate who must somehow flip a deeply conservative state, the omission is striking, especially given that nearly 3 million Black Texans will be pivotal to any Democratic path to victory. Many of those voters backed Crockett in the March primary, and a significant number remain wary of Talaricos candidacy and unconvinced that he understands, much less prioritizes, their concerns.
Come and make the ask. Come and try to earn the vote, said Alan Williams, a Crockett supporter and Friendship-West congregant, voicing a frustration that echoes across the church community. I think he thinks our vote is just a default and he doesnt have to earn it.
In the six weeks since clinching the nomination, Talarico has begun a statewide sprint, stopping at some Black churches, meeting with faith leaders and local officials, and block-walking in majority-Black cities. Yet the discontent simmering among worshippers at Friendship-West who say they have not heard from him directly and the skepticism expressed by Black political leaders across Texas underscore the pressure on him to move faster, repair the damage from a bruising primary, and persuade disillusioned voters to show up in November.
David Malcolm McGruder, the churchs executive pastor, said Talarico must do more than simply appear in Black spaces; he must prove that his promises will outlast Election Day. We have people who show up in our churches during the election season, but who dont show up for us at the level of policy beyond November, McGruder warned, capturing a long-standing complaint about transactional Democratic outreach. His comments reflect a broader conservative critique of progressive politics: that Democrats often treat Black communities as a guaranteed voting bloc while delivering little in the way of lasting economic opportunity, school choice, or public safety reforms that respect local values.
Talarico, a former public school teacher and current state legislator, conceded in an interview that he needs to be more visible at Friendship-West and similar institutions. He said he would love to visit the church soon and insisted that rebuilding trust with Black Texans is central to his strategy. My top priority is bringing our coalition back together, and that is specifically reaching out to Black Texans, he said. Theres no way to win Texas without winning the trust and the support of Black voters. Period. Full stop.
The obstacles are substantial. Talarico was not the preferred choice of many Black Democrats in the primary, and the race itself devolved into a bitter contest in which questions of race, representation, and electability were thrust to the forefront. While Black voters remain overwhelmingly loyal to the Democratic Party, enthusiasm is not guaranteed, particularly in a climate where concerns about voter suppression and election administration are mounting. A last-minute rule change in Dallas County, Crocketts home base, resulted in thousands of voters being turned away or having their ballots invalidated on primary Election Day, feeding a sense of disenfranchisement that could depress turnout.
For years, Democrats have been accused including by voices within their own ranks of taking Black voters for granted, assuming their support while devoting more time and resources to chasing suburban moderates or progressive activists. Several Texas strategists now fear that pattern could repeat itself in the run-up to November, only to be followed by a familiar blame game if Talarico falls short. Black voters have been let down over time, said Antjuan Seawright, a longtime Democratic strategist who has advised the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. What some may not understand is that our vote, more so than any other constituency in the history of this country, has always been a demonstration of our trust, but our trust has either been taken for granted or has always been on the chopping block by a number of people.
On paper, Talarico is not alone. He is already receiving operational support from Democratic-aligned groups such as ORourkes Powered By People, as well as backing from a cadre of Black state lawmakers eager to see a Democrat finally break the GOPs decades-long hold on statewide offices. Some Black Democratic leaders are urging their communities to set aside lingering resentment from the primary and focus on the general election. We dont have time to remain in our feelings, said Crystal Chism, president of the Dallas County chapter of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats. We need to make the main thing the main thing, and thats getting Talarico elected.
Yet one conspicuous absence looms over the effort: Jasmine Crockett herself. Although she quickly conceded the race and formally endorsed Talarico in March, she has not joined him on the campaign trail or mounted a visible push to rally her base behind him. Through a spokesperson, Crockett declined an interview request, leaving unanswered questions about how actively she intends to help the man who defeated her, and whether her supporters will follow her lead if she remains largely on the sidelines.
Talarico said he and Crockett have exchanged a few messages since the primary and that he would love nothing more than to have her campaigning by his side. For now, however, he must win over her voters largely on his own, a task that will require both humility and persistence. Hes got his work cut out for him, observed Russell Maryland, the former No. 1 NFL draft pick who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and backed Crockett in the primary. Hes gonna have to work to win over Jasmines supporters. Talarico will really need to put his fingers in the ground, so to speak in football terms, and kick up some dust.
Complicating matters further is the residue from the primarys most contentious episodes. In February, a political action committee supporting Talarico aired a television ad with the tagline, If she wins, we lose, a spot Crockett denounced as racially charged and personally demeaning. She accused the ad makers of darkening her skin and declared, Its not even undertones right now, adding, Its straight-up racist.
Talarico has stressed that the PAC was not affiliated with his campaign and that he disagreed with the ads message, reiterating that he believes Crockett is electable statewide in Texas, as he has said previously. But the damage was done, reinforcing suspicions among some Black voters that the Democratic establishment is willing to tolerate racially insensitive tactics when convenient. Then came another controversy, when a social media influencer claimed Talarico had privately referred to former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), who exited the Senate race just before Crockett entered, as a mediocre Black man.
Talarico has denied that characterization, saying his comments were misrepresented and that he was criticizing Allreds campaign style, not his race or character. Allred, now locked in a competitive runoff for Texas 33rd congressional district, has publicly closed ranks, signaling party unity despite the flap. Of course I support him, Allred said of Talarico. I support Democrats. Ive been supporting Democrats here for my whole life.
Even so, Allred acknowledged that Talaricos real challenge is not persuading Black voters to choose him over the eventual Republican nominee, but motivating them to participate at all. He needs to show comfort in Black spaces and Black communities, Allred said. Im sure he can do that, but theres just no substitute for it. Particularly given how some of the ads that ran, there may be some element of having to show contrition, even if he wasnt responsible for all those.
Talarico has tried to respond by intensifying his outreach. Since the primary, he has visited Black churches almost every weekend, and on Wednesday he appeared at Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black institution, where he acknowledged the political reality in blunt terms. He told students and community members that he has got to earn the trust and the respect and the support of every single one of the congresswomans supporters, signaling that he understands Crocketts influence and the skepticism he must overcome.
His schedule has also included block-walking in majority-Black DeSoto, Texas, and hosting a roundtable with Black community leaders in Austin to discuss policy priorities. Last month, he convened African American clergy at Saint Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas for a policy-focused discussion, an attempt to show that his interest in Black churches extends beyond photo opportunities. The Democratic Party has taken Black voters for granted and assumed that theyre just part of the base, assumed theyll just show up and vote for you, Talarico said in an interview. And I think weve seen the disastrous results of that kind of disrespect toward Black voters.
For conservatives, that admission underscores a long-standing critique: that progressive politicians often recognize the problem rhetorically but rarely change their governing approach, continuing to push expansive federal programs and identity-driven politics instead of empowering families, churches, and local institutions. Still, Talaricos willingness to call out his own partys complacency could resonate with voters who feel used by Democrats but remain wary of Republicans. Whether he translates that rhetoric into a concrete agenda that respects religious liberty, supports economic mobility, and addresses crime without demonizing law enforcement will determine whether skeptical Black Texans see him as different from the usual liberal candidate.
Talarico does have one major asset that Democrats have lacked in previous cycles: a statewide party infrastructure hungry for a breakthrough and willing to invest heavily. Last Sunday, ORourke whose narrow three-point loss to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018 marked the high-water mark for Texas Democrats this century mingled with congregants at Friendship-West, while volunteers in yellow vests from his Powered By People organization urged them to verify their voter registration. I love James Talarico, ORourke said, offering himself as a full-time surrogate. Im excited for him. Ive talked to him and said, You can send me anywhere that the campaign cant get to. I will raise money for you. Ill go try to get your volunteers fired up. Ill speak as a surrogate. You let me know.
State Sen. Royce West of Dallas, who voted for Crockett but has since endorsed Talarico, expressed cautious optimism about the nominees progress. Hes warming up. He has support within the African American community. Is it where it needs to be? No. Is he making strides? Yes, West said, suggesting that time and sustained engagement could help mend the rifts opened during the primary. For Republicans, the hope is that Democrats internal tensions and the perception of neglect in key communities will keep turnout low enough to preserve the states conservative tilt.
On the GOP side, the race remains unsettled, with longtime Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton locked in a protracted and costly runoff that could leave the eventual nominee bruised and cash-strapped. Talaricos internal polling reportedly shows him competitive against either Republican, though many observers believe he would have a clearer path against Paxton, whose tenure has been marred by legal troubles and ethical controversies. Financially, Talarico enters the general election in a strong position, with nearly $10 million in cash on hand after the first quarter, compared with Cornyns more than $8 million and Paxtons $2.6 million.
Theres work to be done, said Cliff Walker, a Texas Democratic strategist and principal at Seeker Strategies, reflecting the guarded confidence among party operatives. But I dont stay up at night worried that were not going to be able to reassemble this coalition in time for November. Whether that coalition includes energized Black churchgoers at places like Friendship-West or merely reluctant voters who feel they have nowhere else to go may determine not only Talaricos fate, but whether Democrats can credibly claim they have moved beyond the old habit of assuming Black support while offering little in return.
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