In the blockbuster Senate race in Texas, where the combustible GOP primary has been grabbing most of the headlines, it’s the Democratic showdown that’s now being swept up in a political firestorm.

State Rep. James Talarico, one of the two major Democrats running for their party’s nomination in the red-leaning state, was accused over the weekend by an influencer of calling his former rival a “mediocre Black man.” 

Talarico later responded by saying the claim was a “mischaracterization of a private conversation.”

The accusation comes with just one month to go until primary day in Texas, with Talarico facing off against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a progressive firebrand and rising Democratic Party star with a large social media following who is known as a vocal critic of President Donald Trump.

Morgan Thompson, the influencer who goes by the username @morga_tt on TikTok, in a social media post on Sunday accused Talarico of saying in a private conversation with her last month that he had “signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable, intelligent, Black woman.”

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Talarico was allegedly referring to former Rep. Colin Allred, the 2024 Democratic Senate nominee who was making a second straight run this cycle until ending his campaign just before Crockett announced her candidacy. Both Allred and Crockett are Black, and Talarico is White.

Pushing back against Thompson’s characterization of their conversation, Talarico said in a statement, “In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre — but his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race.”

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Allred, responding in a social media video on Monday, said: “James, if you want to compliment Black women, just do it. Just do it. Don’t do it while also tearing down a Black man.”

After dropping his Senate campaign, Allred is now running for Congress in the state’s 33rd District against Rep. Julie Johnson, a fellow Democrat.

Allred, a former college football star who went on to play professionally in the NFL, and later became a civil rights lawyer, said he would be endorsing Crockett after initially staying neutral.

Crockett said in a statement that Allred “drew a line in the sand.”

“He made it clear that he did not take allegations of an attack on him as simply another day in the neighborhood, but more importantly, his post wasn’t about himself,” she said. “It was a moment that he decided to stand for all people who have been targeted and talked about in a demeaning way as our country continues to be divided.”

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The fireworks, which have the potential to rock the Democratic primary race, come as the latest polling suggests a competitive primary between Talarico and Crockett, with most Black voters supporting Crockett and a majority of White and Latino votes backing Talarico, former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian who is also seen as a rising Democrat.

But a veteran Texas-based Democratic consultant called the criticism of Talarico “entirely overblown.”

“I’ve seen a lot of hard-hitting attacks in Senate races around the country, but attacking a candidate for what might have been said about a past candidate is not one of them,” added the consultant, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely.

CORNYN TORCHES DEMOCRATIC SENATE PRIMARY FIELD IN TEXAS 

But the allegations once again inject race into the Democratic primary, where some questions about Crockett’s electability statewide appear to be related to race.

Longtime Texas-based Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser told Fox News Digital the episode is “not great” for Talarico.

“I think this dustup doesn’t really help him,” Steinhauser argued. “I think it makes him lose some of the momentum he’s had in the past few weeks.”

Up until now, most of the political crossfire has been in the Republican primary, where longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn is being challenged by Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton and by Rep. Wesley Hunt.

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Unlike the Democratic primary, where Crockett and Talarico are the only major candidates, the three-way Republican race may be headed towards a May runoff, which would be triggered if no candidate tops 50% in the March primary.

A Texas Democrat running for Senate is facing backlash over his comments about his former opponent.

Morgan Thompson, a political influencer who posts on TikTok under the username @morga_tt, claimed that state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat, referred to former Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, as a “mediocre Black man.” 

Thompson, who is Black, said the remark was made after a Jan. 12 town hall in Plano, Texas. Talarico, who is now facing off against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, allegedly told Thompson that he “signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable, intelligent Black woman.”

Talarico was reportedly referring to Allred as the “mediocre Black man” and Crockett as “a formidable, intelligent Black woman.” Allred had ended his campaign in early December as Crockett prepared to enter the race. She formally launched her bid for the Senate on Dec. 8, 2025, the same day Allred ended his campaign.

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In response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, Talarico’s campaign pointed to a statement that was released after Thompson’s video went viral. In the statement, Talarico claimed that it was a “mischaracterization of a private conversation.”

“In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre — but his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race,” Talarico’s statement read. “As a Black man in America, Congressman Allred has had to work twice as hard to get where he is. I understand how my critique of the Congressman’s campaign could be interpreted given this country’s painful legacy of racism, and I care deeply about the impact my words have on others.”

Talarico asserted that Democrats are “all on the same team” and said he “deeply” respects Allred.

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Allred, a former NFL linebacker, civil rights attorney and congressman, responded to Talarico in a video posted on X. He slammed Talarico for having “the temerity and the audacity” to make the remark to Thompson.

“First, let me give you some free advice James, if you want to compliment Black women, just do it,” Allred said in the video. “Just do it. Don’t do it while also tearing down a Black man, okay?”

“We’re tired of folks using praise for Black women to mask criticism for Black men. That’s not good for our community,” Allred added.

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The former congressman suggested that there was “a bit of confession” in Talarico’s remarks, saying, “Maybe you used the word ‘mediocre’ because there was something creeping into your mind about yourself because I know you’re not talking about somebody who’s been better at three things than you’ve ever been at one.”

At the end of his video, Allred encouraged people to vote for Crockett, and said that Talarico “should not be our nominee for United States Senate.”

Crockett and Talarico will face off in the state’s March 3 primary. The winner will then run against Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

Fox News Digital reached out to Crockett’s office for comment.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Officials in Tucson, Arizona, are continuing to search for the mother of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie after she went missing from her home and was last seen on Saturday night, saying that a crime has been committed.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her Tuscon residence at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. While officials didn’t immediately elaborate on the circumstances of her disappearance, Sheriff Chris Nanos said on Monday that “we do, in fact, have a crime.”

On Thursday, investigators provided several updates regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, with Camron Gutherie delivering yet another desperate plea through social media asking to bring his mother home. 

Nanos revealed additional details surrounding the timeline of the evening Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home, including that the doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m. and her pacemaker stopped syncing to her Apple Watch at 2:28 a.m. Additionally, Nanos told reporters that “everybody’s still a suspect,” though investigators have not located a person of interest in the case. 

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER NANCY POSSIBLY ABDUCTED FROM HER HOME, AUTHORITIES SAY

Blood droplets found outside the home were confirmed to be Nancy Guthrie’s, according to Nanos. 

The FBI also announced a $50,000 reward Thursday for information in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. 

Authorities are working to verify a ransom note that was sent to at least three news stations earlier this week, with Nanos revealing the letter demanding a large sum of cryptocurrency by 5 p.m. local time on Thursday. 

Around the time of the deadline, Camron Guthrie posted to his sister and NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie’s Instagram account pleading with his mother’s captors to make contact with the family. 

“This is Camron Guthrie. I am speaking for the Guthrie family,” he said. “Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out, and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.”

“But first, we have to know that you have our mom,” he continued. “We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”

A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital that it’s believed Nancy Guthrie was either kidnapped or abducted.

“Sheriff [Chris] Nanos has stated that he believes that a crime has been committed,” a spokesperson for Pima County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital. “At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will and that includes possible kidnapping or abduction.”

Nanos said Nancy Guthrie didn’t leave the home by herself. According to the Los Angeles Times, blood was found inside Nancy Guthrie’s home. A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that there were “blood drops” leading from the entryway outside down the house’s pathway towards the driveway.During an interview on MSNOW on Tuesday, Nanos said Nancy Guthrie was “physically removed from that home against her will,” but declined to say whether she was harmed. The sheriff also said it’s unknown if the individual who took Nancy Guthrie is familiar or a stranger.Police dispatch audio when Nancy Guthrie went missing reveals that the 84-year-old has health issues.

Savannah Guthrie released a statement to NBC’s “Today” on Monday morning.

“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom,” the statement said.

MOM OF NBC’S SAVANNAH GUTHRIE REPORTED MISSING IN ARIZONA, SHERIFF SAYS THERE IS A ‘CRIME’

Here’s a timeline of events:

January 31 at 5:32 p.m.: 

Nancy Guthrie travels to her family’s home for dinner.

January 31 at 9:48 p.m.: 

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her residence near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue on Saturday evening. Nancy Guthrie’s children dropped her off at the home at around 9:45 p.m., Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said. 

January 31 at 9:50 p.m.: 

Nancy Guthrie’s garage door closes.

February 1 at 1:47 a.m.: 

The doorbell camera at Nancy Guthrie’s home disconnects.

February 1 at 2:12 a.m.:

A security camera detected motion on camera at Nancy Guthrie’s home. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department noted that there was no video available because a subscription wasn’t active.

February 1 at 2:28 a.m. 

Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from the application on her phone.

February 1 at 11 a.m.: 

Nanos said Nancy Guthrie didn’t attend her church service, adding that her family was notified about the absence by a churchgoer. Officials said family members went to Nancy Guthrie’s home at around 11 a.m. and spent some time looking for her.

February 1 at 11:56 a.m.:

Nancy Guthrie’s family checks in on her.

February 1 at 12:03 p.m.:

Nancy Guthrie’s family calls 911, according to officials.

The law enforcement source also said that there were “blood drops” leading from the entryway outside down the house’s pathway towards the driveway.

February 1 at 12:15 p.m.: 

Sheriff’s deputies arrive at Nancy Guthrie’s home.

February 1 at 8:55 p.m.: 

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says they’ve begun search and rescue efforts using helicopters, infrared cameras and drones to search for the missing 84-year-old. During a news conference on Sunday night, Nanos said they found evidence that raised “some concerns” at Nancy Guthrie’s home.

“We’re pretty much just throwing everything at this that we can. Guthrie is 84 years old and is not of good physical health, and so naturally that’s a great concern,” Nanos said. “This is very concerning to us. We don’t typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this. But it’s very concerning what we’re learning from the house.”

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February 2 at 9:17 a.m.:

Nanos said during a news conference that Nancy Guthrie didn’t leave the house on her own accord, adding that a crime had been committed. He said the search and rescue mission had been shut down to give that team time to rest.

“We believe now, after we processed that crime scene, that we do, in fact, have a crime scene that we do, in fact, have a crime,” Nanos said. “She did not leave on her own. We know that.”

“We don’t see this as a search mission as much as we do a crime scene,” he added.

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Nanos noted that Nancy Guthrie has limited mobility and has medication that she needs to take every 24 hours, which could be fatal if not taken. He said Nancy Guthrie “is of great sound mind” besides her physical ailments, adding she’s “sharp as a tack.”

WATCH: Sheriff’s helicopter hovers over area where missing Nancy Guthrie is believed to live

Investigators were seen in the area where Nancy Guthrie lives, including sheriff’s department helicopters.

“We need her back. We need to find her, and time is very critical. She is 84. She needs her meds,” Nanos said.

WATCH: Sheriff’s office deputies walk up driveway of house in area of Nancy Guthrie’s house

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office is providing a reward up to $2,500 for information relating to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

People with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance are asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at: 520-351-4900.