This material was originally published by Reform Austin.

Graphic by Reform Austin.

According to anonymous people close to the main source provided to CNN , Texas Rep. James Talarico plans to publicly announce his campaign for US Senate on Tuesday.

James Talarico, the democratic representative and aspiring preacher who represents the northern Austin suburbs in the Texas House, has garnered immense recognition this current year, especially by his presence in social media, such as TikTok.

A video of him against forcing public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms went viral, granting him an appearance on The Joe Rogan’s show .

“If we recognize that we have far more in common than the stuff that divides us, that’s a threat to their power. It’s a threat to their wealth. That unity — loving your enemy — is not just morally good, it’s not just idealistic, it’s good strategic advice”, Talarico told Rogan.

“James Talarico, you need to run for president,” Rogan stated, after being impressed by the 36-year-old.

Later, he went viral again after condemning Texas lawmakers in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Allen, Texas, which resulted in eight dead.

According to POLITICO “Talarico is uniquely positioned to actually be the Democrat who wins statewide”, a feat no Democrat has accomplished in Texas since 1994. Often described as a democratic rising star in Texas, Talarico is gaining attention in a state long dominated by Republicans.

Democrats are closely watching the GOP primary between Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeing it as a potential window. Paxton, who remains popular with much of Trump’s base, is widely viewed as a weaker candidate in a general election. His recent personal scandals, including a July divorce filing by his wife citing “biblical grounds” and alleging infidelity, have only added to Democratic hopes.

Next year, Democrats need to gain four seats in order to achieve control in the Senate. Their top target is North Carolina. Party strategists are also eyeing potential opportunities in Maine, Ohio, Iowa, and Texas—states where GOP-held seats could become unexpectedly competitive.