Talarico Urges Democrats to Make Trump's Final Years Productive
The Texas senator-elect told a Denver gathering that Democrats should use the remaining two years of Trump's term to deliver change.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Political Parties
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Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico urged Democrats to make Trump's final two years the most productive in American history during a speech at the What's Next conference in Denver on Thursday. Democrats won both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
Why it matters
Talarico, the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Texas since 1988, framed the next two years as a window for accountability and action rather than waiting for change. The message signals how Democrats in Congress may approach oversight of a White House that has signaled it will resist investigations.
Democrats hold both chambers of Congress following the 2026 midterms, and Trump's term runs until 2029. Musk spent more than $168 million backing Ken Paxton, while the specific legislative agenda Democrats will pursue has not been detailed.
The players
James Talarico
Talarico is a Texas Democrat who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2026 as the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat since 1988.
Elon Musk
Musk is the billionaire entrepreneur who spent more than $168 million supporting Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race.
Ken Paxton
Paxton is the Texas Republican who ran against Talarico in the Senate race and received heavy outside spending from Musk.
The details
Speaking at the two-day What's Next conference organized by Majority Democrats, Talarico said the American people cannot wait two years for change. He campaigned on accountability for the Trump administration and on working with Trump where possible, while the White House has signaled it will fight attempts by Congress to investigate the administration.
Timeline
Thursday: Talarico delivers his speech at the What's Next conference in Denver.
2029: Trump's presidency ends and he leaves the White House.
Political Context
Talarico's victory ends a Texas drought dating to 1988, when a Democrat last won a U.S. Senate seat in the state. His call to use Trump's remaining term for accountability frames the next two years as an opening for congressional oversight of the administration.
Congressional oversight and any new legislation pursued by a Democratic-controlled Congress could affect federal policy on the issues Democrats prioritize. Voters will see how that majority uses its power over the next two years of Trump's term.
The takeaway
Party control of Congress can shift quickly after an election, so following which bills and investigations move forward is the best way to track how the next two years unfold. Watching the parties' stated priorities alongside their votes gives a clearer picture than campaign rhetoric alone.
Further reading
Explore more coverage of Political Parties to see how the parties are positioning themselves after the midterms.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC News.
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