Democrats Jasmine Crockett And James Talarico In their first debate in the US Senate, in heavily Republican Texas, the two parties differed more in style than substance, although they differed somewhat on the future of ICE and the impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Crockett, an outspoken member of the U.S. House of Representatives for his second term, and Talarico, a softer-spoken four-term state representative, have generally echoed each other on economic issues, health care and taxes.
Both called for a “fighter” in this role. Crockett, who is black, said she was better positioned to appeal to black voters dissatisfied with Republicans, while Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who often discusses his Christian faith, suggested he could appeal to rural voters disaffected with Republicans.
The hourlong discussion, before hundreds of union members and their families at the Texas AFL-CIO political convention, served as a first look at the themes that Democrats hoping to overtake the Republican Senate majority in November are likely to emphasize throughout the midterm campaign.
The candidate chosen in the March 3 primary will face the winner of a four-term Republican runoff. It is. John CornynRep. Wesley Hunt and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Impeachment of Trump
Crockett said she would support impeachment proceedings against Trump, starting with investigating his use of tariffs. Crockett has supported impeachment measures in the House and would be able to promote them as a member of the House Judiciary Committee if Democrats take control of the House in November.
“I think there is more than enough to impeach Donald Trump,” Crockett said. “At the end of the day, do I think we should go through the formal process? Absolutely.”
Talarico did not suggest whether he would support impeachment proceedings, except to say, “I think the administration has certainly committed impeachable offenses.” »
Instead, Talarico said he would fairly, as a senator, evaluate any evidence presented in an impeachment trial, given that the Senate does not bring impeachment charges but votes to convict or acquit. “I’m not going to articulate articles of impeachment here in a political debate,” he said.
Both candidates discuss financing the ICE
Both candidates condemned the shooting of a man in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents on Saturday and ICE’s heavy presence in the city, although Talarico was more vocal about cutting funding for the agency.
Both said they support initiating impeachment proceedings against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem under ICE. But Crockett was less specific about cutting their funding.
“We definitely need to clean up,” she said. “Whatever that looks like, I’m ready to do it.”
Talarcio said more specifically about ICE funding: “We should take this money back and put it back into our communities, where it belongs. »
Style differences
While both candidates said the position required “a fighter,” Crockett presented himself as a high-profile contradictory figure while Talarico said he took on Republicans at the Texas Statehouse.
“I’m here to fight the system, the system that holds so many of us back,” said Crockett, a 44-year-old Dallas civil rights attorney and former public defender who built her national profile with an outspoken style marked by viral moments.
“It’s about exploiting the rawness of this moment,” Crockett said of what Democratic primary voters are looking for.
Talarico, a former public school teacher, presented himself as someone who had actively opposed the Republican-controlled state legislature.
He highlighted his opposition to Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda in Austin, particularly on tax credits for Texans who choose private schools for their children.
“We need a proven fighter for our schools, for our values, for our constituents in the halls of power,” he said. “I think we need a professor in the United States Senate.”
Taxes, healthcare and the economy
Crockett and Talarico have generally aligned themselves on domestic politics, including support for higher taxes.
Both candidates have proposed eliminating tariffs as a way to lower consumer prices.
“We need to get these rates down,” Crockett said. “This is hurting farmers and ranchers who are filing record numbers of bankruptcies.”
Talarico was more direct in his support for higher taxes on the country’s wealthiest earners.
“What I will not compromise on is making sure that these billionaires pay for everything that they have gotten from this country,” Talarico said, although he did not suggest how much he would seek to raise taxes.
Crockett voted last summer against the tax and spending cut bill passed by the Republican-controlled Congress and signed by Trump. The bill extends tax cuts passed during the first Trump administration.
She also said she supports Medicare for all, a government-backed health insurance plan for all Americans.
“If we truly believe that everyone should have access to health care, we can make this a reality through bold leadership,” she said.
Talarico supports the concept and has spoken favorably about universal basic income, without suggesting he would support it specifically in the Senate.
“I’m very encouraged by some universal basic income pilot programs,” he said.
