Talarico: GOP voters ‘whisper’ support for him ‘like they’re in … witness protection’

Trump getting involved in the Senate primary in Texas saddled Republicans with a scandal-ridden nominee.

James Talarico is polling ahead of where Beto O’Rourke stood at this stage of the 2018 Texas Senate race, offering an early sign Democrats may be entering the 2026 contest on stronger footing.

The pieces are all aligning, Democratic strategists, lawmakers and activists argue: Talarico is a charismatic candidate who has fundraising prowess and boasts a lead in early head-to-head polling.

In an interview with NBC News, the Democratic nominee was asked if he wanted to clarify some of those statements that his GOP challenger, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, has been highlighting in recent days.