With the March 3 Democratic primary approaching, reparations for descendants of enslaved Americans have emerged as a point of contrast in the 2026 Texas U.S. Senate race.
Crockett, who represents parts of Dallas County in Congress, has publicly endorsed federal reparations proposals and suggested potential mechanisms for delivering compensation.
In April 2024, during an appearance on the Black Lawyers Podcast, Crockett proposed exempting Black Americans from paying federal taxes for a limited time as a possible form of reparations. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Crockett said:
“That [exemption] puts money back in your pocket. But at the same time, it may not be as objectionable to some people about actually giving out dollars.”
Crockett later co-sponsored the “Reparations Now Resolution,” introduced in May 2025 by U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, which recognizes a federal responsibility to provide reparations, including financial compensation, for the lasting harms of slavery.
She has also supported H.R. 40, legislation that would establish a commission to study the lasting impacts of slavery and develop reparations proposals. Crockett reaffirmed her support for H.R. 40 in December 2025, according to a social media video posted at the time.
At the state level, Texas lawmakers have filed concurrent resolutions urging Congress to pass H.R. 40. In 2019, House Concurrent Resolution 150 from the 86th Legislature called on Congress to establish a federal reparations commission. A similar measure, H.C.R. 53, was filed during the 88th Legislature in 2023 but did not advance.
Legislative records do not list Talarico as an author or co-author of those resolutions.
By contrast, Talarico has not publicly endorsed reparations legislation during his tenure in the Texas House, based on a review of legislative records, public statements, and his social media posts.
The Dallas Express contacted Talarico’s campaign multiple times to ask about his current position on reparations in the Senate race and separately contacted his Texas House office to request clarification on his legislative record on reparations-related measures. Neither his campaign nor his House office responded by publication deadline.
During Talarico’s time in office, concurrent resolutions urging Congress to pass H.R. 40 were introduced in the Texas Legislature, including measures filed in 2019 and 2023.
Today I killed HB 3979—the bill that attempted to teach our students a whitewashed version of American history—with a Point of Order.
If kids are old enough to experience racism, then they're old enough to learn about it. #txlege pic.twitter.com/Xg5vmm4Bvh
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) May 28, 2021
Instead, Talarico has focused much of his public commentary on how slavery and white supremacy are taught in Texas schools, including opposing legislation he said would “whitewash” history.
Crockett leads Talarico by 12 points – 56% to 44% – according to a poll from the University of Texas released on February 23. The Democratic primary is scheduled for March 3, with early voting having begun February 17.
