Texas Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for Texas' contested U.S. Senate seat, is pushing back on speculation that U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett's absence from the party's state convention last month is a sign his former primary rival is refusing to back him.

Some political observers speculated Crockett, who was reportedly invited to speak at the event by Talarico's campaign, snubbed him as he's vying to win support from Black voters and is locked in a virtual tie with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the general election.

Sign up Talarico faced a bitter primary against Crockett, who's Black.