Obama Meets With Texas Senate Candidate Talarico

Former President Barack Obama met with U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico on Tuesday in Texas to lend support to the Democrat's bid for statewide office in the reliably conservative state. Obama lunched with Talarico and Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the nominee for governor, at a taco shop in Austin.

The visit aimed to provide a boost from one of the more popular figures in the Democratic Party. Reporters spotted Obama at the restaurant, where he posed for a photo with the candidates. He will face the winner of the Republican primary runoff between the state's attorney general and the incumbent senator, scheduled for May 26.

” He also called Hinojosa in March to congratulate her on winning the nomination, she said in a Facebook post.

The former president has focused on elevating younger Democratic leaders. He recently joined New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the Bronx to promote free child care. Democrats view Talarico's Senate bid as one of their stronger opportunities to compete statewide, though they describe it as a long shot in Texas.

>The visit was meant to give the candidates a boost from one of the more liked figures in the Democratic Party. — Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press, May 12, 2026 The lunch meeting reflects Obama's continued involvement in party politics more than a decade after leaving office.

Talarico and Hinojosa are both seeking to flip seats long held by Republicans. Obama's appearance generated immediate local and national coverage, with photographers capturing the trio at the Austin taco restaurant on Tuesday afternoon.