A Texas Democratic Party vice chair says state Rep. James Talarico’s (D-District 50) campaign rebuffed her efforts to help, including an offer to host a fundraiser, in an undercover recording The Dallas Express exclusively obtained.
Sheena Flanary, a former Collin County Democratic Party chair, now serves as the state party’s vice chair for voter engagement, according to its officer directory. In the recording, she questioned the campaign’s relationship with black supporters and agreed with criticism of the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee’s treatment of that constituency.
The supplied video carries a September 7 date and presents the conversation as audio over a photograph of Flanary.
Video credit: Obtained by Dallas Express.
Flanary describes rebuffed support
The undercover interviewer said support for Talarico over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) felt “kind of racist.” Flanary responded, “Yeah.”
The interviewer then characterized the situation as “intentionally racist and sexist.”
“You’re not wrong,” Flanary responded. “I felt it too.”
Flanary described several unsuccessful attempts to support the campaign without asking for anything in return.
“And I was kind of rebuffed,” she said.
She questioned whether the campaign wanted help from black supporters and said she and her husband had offered to raise money for Talarico.
“I mean, even me and my husband even offered to do a fundraiser for him,” Flanary said.
She said the campaign did not take up that offer and described her surprise at the reception.
“I thought we were kind of cool,” she said.
When the interviewer accused Talarico of trying to “pacify” black voters and failing to look out for them, Flanary responded, “Yeah, I agree, I agree.”
Flanary’s comments describe her own experiences and opinions about the campaign. The interviewer introduced the descriptions of racism and sexism.
Black Democrats voice concerns
Flanary’s comments follow public questions about Talarico’s outreach to black Democrats.
Black elected officials at the Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi said in June that Talarico had more work to do to engage their communities, The Texas Tribune reported. Talarico acknowledged the party’s history of taking black voters for granted and pledged to earn their support.
Some officials also credited his efforts. State Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) described signs of good faith, while state Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-District 27) said the campaign was working to earn black voters’ support, the Tribune reported.
Crockett, who previously competed against Talarico, did not attend the state Democratic convention. Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred was also absent, The Texan reported.
As The Dallas Express previously reported, Talarico also faced pointed questions from black voters at a July 19 town hall in Houston. He remained at the event and answered additional questions.
Crockett leaves Talarico off FIRE PAC list
Questions about Democratic unity resurfaced Monday when Crockett’s Fueling Individual Rights Everywhere, or FIRE, PAC released an endorsement list that did not include Talarico.
The release highlighted candidates for the Texas Legislature, State Board of Education and county offices. Its stated focus was helping Democrats win down-ballot races.
The omission prompted a profane response from former U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pennsylvania).
“F*** her,” Wild wrote on X in response to Crockett’s decision, according to Fox News.
Crockett previously announced support for Talarico after he defeated her in the March primary. She has since emphasized campaigning for down-ballot candidates. Her earlier support and the PAC’s latest endorsement list are separate actions.
Polymarket favors Talarico; Paxton internal poll shows lead
Polymarket’s win odds favored Talarico over Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on September 30, displaying approximately 63% for Talarico and 38% for Paxton. Those figures represent market-implied chances of winning, not percentages of voter support. The supplied graphic below shows a separate snapshot at 59% and 41%; market prices change.
Polymarket snapshot showing Talarico at 59% and Paxton at 41%. The figures represent market-implied chances of winning and change as trading continues. | Image: Polymarket.
Paxton’s campaign released an internal poll September 29 showing him ahead of Talarico, 48% to 45%. Pulse Decision Science conducted the survey of 800 likely Texas voters by live telephone interviews September 24–27. The three-point gap falls within the poll’s reported margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
The campaign said Paxton’s support rose from 44% in its May survey to 48% in the latest survey, while Talarico’s increased from 42% to 45%. It said the undecided share declined from 11% to 4%.
The Dallas Express reached out to Talarico’s campaign and Flanary for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
Provided by Dallas Express
