Talarico Wins Democratic Nomination for Texas Senate Seat; Republicans Set for Runoff
The Morning Buzz: March 4, 2026
1. Talarico Wins Democratic Nomination for Texas Senate Seat; Republicans Set for Runoff
At NPR, Ashley Lopez and Andrew Schneider report that James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and state lawmaker, defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the Texas Senate Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, the race is headed to a runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The contest is among the most closely watched this year, as Democrats see a potential opening for their first statewide win in Texas in more than 30 years. Both primaries are viewed as key indicators of where each party’s base voters want to steer their parties ahead of the fall midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. PRRI finds that in 2024, 31% of Texans identified as Republican, 24% as independent, and 27% as Democrat.
2. Watchdog Alleges U.S. Troops Told War on Iran Is ‘Part Of God’s Divine Plan’
The Guardian’s Sara Braun writes that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation says it has received complaints from over 200 service members of U.S. military commanders allegedly using extremist Christian rhetoric to justify the war on Iran. The reports suggest that, across all branches of the armed forces, some military leaders are framing the conflict as a "divine plan" and a “biblically sanctioned” war, raising significant concerns about the separation of church and state within the armed forces. PRRI data finds that six in ten Americans (60%) say the way the U.S. has been dealing with other countries over the past year is going in the wrong direction, while less than four in ten (38%) say it is generally going in the right direction.
3. Trump Voucher Offers New Money for Public School Students, and Pressure for Democrats
For the Washington Post, Laura Meckler reports on a new federal school voucher program that can be used to pay not only for private school tuition, but also public school costs. Twenty-eight governors have said they will opt in, but many Democratic governors remain undecided. Though the tax credits support both public and private school expenses, many opponents argue that the “potential benefits are outweighed by the risk of moving closer to privatized education” and that public education would be funded at a much lower rate than private institutions. Many Democrats are on the fence because, though they oppose private school vouchers, opting out would mean not receiving the funding for public schools as well. PRRI’s 2025 American Values Survey finds that 59% of Americans say the increasing cost of housing and everyday expenses is a critical issue, including majorities of Republicans (52%), independents (62%), and Democrats (63%).
4. Singing Protests Gain Momentum As Non-Violent but Emotionally Stirring Rebukes to ICE
Fiona Murphy at Religion News Service highlights Middle Church, a historic congregation in Manhattan’s East Village, where hundreds gathered for a two-hour “ICE Out, Sing-In” service, where prospective protesters were trained to “try to touch the hearts” of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The singalong included movement and testimony as well as song and honored one congregant’s husband, who was absent because he had been detained. Middle Church senior pastor and PRRI Senior Democracy Fellow, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis says, “We’ve seen our family in Minnesota singing as resistance. The singing is memory, the singing is hope, the singing is prayer, the singing is power.” PRRI finds that most white Christian groups have confidence in ICE, including white evangelical Protestants (68%), white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (59%), and white Catholics (58%), compared with 34% of Hispanic Catholics, 32% of Hispanic Protestants, and 28% of Black Protestants.
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Learn more in the Spotlight Analysis: How Proud Are Americans of the United States and Its Role in the World?
Dems may get an inside straight here, if Talarico draws Paxton as his opponent. Only serious chance to win.