Georgetown, TX – Today, the Texas AFL-CIO will host the first debate between the two leading candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senator from Texas, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and Texas State Representative James Talarico, during its COPE Convention.Â
“We’re looking forward to hosting the first U.S. Senate debate this year focused on the issues that matter to Texas workers,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar. “This debate will help our union members — and workers across the state — determine who to support in the Democratic primary.”
Texas AFL-CIO’s 2026 U.S. Senate Debate
WHO:
- U.S. Senate candidate Jasmine Crockett
- U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico
- Moderator Daniel Marin, KXAN anchor
- Moderator Gromer Jeffers, Dallas Morning News political writer
- Hundreds of Texas union members
WHAT: 1-hour, livestreamed debate between the top two Texas Democratic Party candidates for U.S. Senate at the Texas AFL-CIO’s COPE Convention. The debate will also feature questions from Texas union members.
WHEN: 2pm CT on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026
WHERE:
- Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center, 1101 Woodlawn Ave., Georgetown, TX 78628
- Livestream will be available through Nexstar Media Group Inc. on their local market websites and smart TV apps:Â
| Market | Website | CTV APP |
| Tyler | ketk.com | KETK+ |
| Waco | fox44news.com | Fox44+ |
| Amarillo | myhighplains.com | KAMR+ |
| Dallas | cw33.com | CW33+ |
| Houston | cw39.com | CW39+ |
| San Angelo | conchovalleyhomepage.com | KLST+ |
| Abilene | bigcountryhomepage.com | KTAB+ |
| Austin | kxan.com | KXAN+ |
| Midland/Odessa | yourbasin.com | Big2+ |
| Lubbock | everythinglubbock.com | el+ (Lubbock) |
| Harlingen | valleycentral.com | ValleyCentral+ |
| Wichita Falls | texhomashomepage.com | KFDX+ |
| El Paso | ktsm.com | KTSM+ |
| Shreveport/Texarkana | ktalnews.com | KTAL Now |
SATELLITE FEED: G16 KU TX04 Slot 4 from 2 PM ET to 4:30 PM ET
- All media are free to use with the courtesy: Nexstar Media Group
POOL PHOTO LINK: https://texastribune.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000ppyt3OYr.J0/G0000NyYUzMhkXEw/20260124-Crockett-Talarico-Debate-POOL
- All media are free to use with attribution. Pool photographer is Bob Daemmrich/The Texas Tribune
The Committee on Political Education (COPE) is the Texas labor movement’s political arm. Every two years, the COPE Convention votes on statewide endorsements and adopts local endorsements from across the state.
Additional details about the Convention can be found at texasaflcioconvention.org
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The Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation consisting of more than 250,000 affiliated union members and advocates for working people in Texas. Learn more at texasaflcio.org
