‘Open borders, Trump-hating radical’: GOP unleashes early blitz on Texas Democrat Talarico

By Fox News · Fox News

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Republicans didn't wait for the call in the Democratic Senate primary in Texas to target James Talarico, the Democrats' nominee in the high-stakes midterm election battle. Hours before the Associated Press reported early on Wednesday that Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker with a surging national profile, defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a nationally known politician and progressive firebrand, Republicans lost no time in framing Talarico as a "far-left radical." Talarico, a 36-year-old former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, is trying to become the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a Senate election in right-leaning Texas. He'll face off against the winner of a bruising Republican primary runoff on May 26 between longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. RISING STAR TALARICO TOPS PROGRESSIVE FIREBRAND CROCKETT IN LONE STAR STATE SHOWDOWN This year's Senate showdown in Texas is one of a handful across the country that could determine if Republicans hold their majority in the chamber in the midterm elections. The GOP currently controls the chamber 53-47. "James Talarico is an open borders, Trump-hating radical who can never be allowed to set foot in the U.S. Senate," National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Joanna Rodriguez charged in a statement Tuesday evening. COMBUSTIBLE REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY IN TEXAS HEADED INTO OVERTIME Paxton, in a primary night speech in Dallas, claimed Talarico is a "far-left radical who wants to abolish ICE, says God is non-binary — I'm not even sure I know what that means — and thinks Christians are commanded to put boys in girls' sports. He will do nothing more than be a puppet for Chuck Schumer and the national Democrats." And Cornyn, in a Fox News Digital interview on Sunday, argued that both Talarico and Crockett "should be running for the Senate in California, not in Texas. They're way out of the mainstream in Texas." ROUND TWO…