James Talarico’s Texas Senate race upset kicks off SNL after Democratic wins

Talarico appears on SNL

Talarico joined the latest Saturday Night Live episode in a surprise appearance. His victory in the U.S. Senate race was among the Democratic wins celebrated in the show’s opening sketch.

The Texas lawmaker and seminarian defeated Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday. Democrats also won majorities in the state House and Senate, while Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Democratic victories open sketch

The cold open showed New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer celebrating the results. Kenan Thompson played Jeffries, while Sarah Sherman portrayed Schumer. The sketch presented Jeffries as the likely House speaker in January. When Thompson’s Jeffries was asked about that prospect, he answered, “Yes,” then proposed a toast to the victory.

Trump joins the celebration

James Austin Johnson played President Donald Trump, who interrupted the gathering as a party crasher. He called the Democratic wave a “blue Toonami,” referencing Cartoon Network’s late-night anime block. The sketch indicated Trump would not challenge the midterm results. He said he hoped voters enjoyed the outcome, including the Texas win by the man he calls “Talafreako.”