In fiercely competitive Democratic Senate race, social media influencers increasingly drive the conversation

When asked by a content creator about “vicious attacks” on Crockett by “people that may or may not be connected with your campaign,” Talarico emphasized to his supporters that “we all have the same goal” of flipping Texas blue, and that the “competition should be healthy, it should be respectful.”

“That’s the only way I want us to conduct ourselves in this campaign,” Talarico said in the video, which was posted Jan. 20.

Campaigns and super PACs cannot coordinate on messaging. But a pro-Talarico super PAC on Thursday launched the first negative TV ad of the primary, painting Crockett as the GOP’s preferred candidate in the general election. Republicans have made no secret of their belief that Crockett would be easier to defeat.