Senator-elect James Talarico appears on Saturday Night Live after Texas Senate win

James Talarico, the Democrat who defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton in Tuesday's Texas Senate race, appeared unexpectedly during the cold open of Saturday Night Live. The sketch featured a parody of New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, played by Kenan Thompson, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, portrayed by Sarah Sherman, celebrating the recent Democratic victories and hinting at Jeffries' prospects as House speaker.

In the sketch, a character representing President Donald Trump, performed by James Austin Johnson, mocked the Democratic wave as a “blue Toonami” and said he would not contest the election results, adding, “I accepted the results, which is almost scarier in a way.”

Following the parody, the real Talarico entered the stage to applause and introduced himself, saying, “Hi, America, I’m James Talarico, the guy who’s been texting you every day asking for $5.” President Trump, in the sketch, replied, “In this economy, who can blame you?” Talarico noted his campaign focus on wealth disparity and political corruption and suggested cooperation with the president to improve everyday Americans’ lives. He remarked, “It’s clear people want something new,” referring to the show’s political cold opens. Both participants concluded with the program’s signature line, “Live from New York …”.