James Talarico Just Gave Us the Clearest Sign That His Campaign Is in Trouble

PJ Media ^ | 10-14-2026 | Matt Margolis

[Dan in Wichita]

The Talarico campaign's handling of its candidate's nearly two-week disappearance from the trail has raised plenty of questions, and I don't expect the left to ever admit where those questions lead.

Texas State Rep. James Talarico (D-50th District) blamed the flu for his absence, and that cover story has plenty of problems. After nearly two weeks of radio silence, the campaign only spoke out after rumors that he’d checked himself into a mental health facility spread like wildfire and appeared to be confirmed by audio recordings with the facility. The Talarico campaign suddenly rushed to deny the claims and rolled their candidate out in front of some friendly crowds.

Personally, I think his campaign is in panic mode, and the cuckoo’s nest rumors are only part of the reason. The clearest sign came this week, and it had nothing to do with his health.

On Monday, the campaign released an ad attacking Joe Biden on border security. It opens with a line straight from the candidate.

"I called out Joe Biden for failing us on the border," Talarico says in the ad.

Yeah… there’s just one major problem with this claim: there is zero evidence he ever did anything of the sort.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: democrattruth

[Dan in Wichita]

Talarico is now trying to convince Texas voters he's been a border hawk for years.

[Hyman Roth]

Don’t listen to the headlines. GO VOTE

[redangus]

If you look at his townhall last night he trying to convince Texans he’s a John Bircher. Loves capitalism, will protect the oil and gas industry, stood up to Biden on immigration, has old line mainstream religious beliefs, you name it, every position he’s taken or stated in the past has been disavowed. He is now to the right of Paxton on everything. And for some reason Paxton refuses to challenge him on anything. Paxton was invited to the TH and passed. So, Talarico had the stage all to himself to spread his lies with no pushback from his opponent. If Paxton didn’t want the job, he should have just let Cornyn keep it. At least he would helped in the numbers department.

[Common Sense 101]

This lying FREAK actually said the border should be viewed as a welcome mat to illegals; he is a POS perverted liar, or in other words a Demonic Party politician.

[Antoninus]

So basically he's down to lying about who he is and what he stands for in order to win.

Sounds like a losing campaign to me.

[Round Earther]

Over the last few weeks, I spent time in the Texas Hill Country in towns like Llano, Kerrville and even Luckenbach, and there is no support for Talarico.

[going hot]

The rat candidate lied?

OMG!

Say it isn't so!

It is easier than breathing for them folks.

[Antoninus]

Paxton was invited to the TH and passed.

Paxton is running like a guy who knows that the internal polling is showing him 15 points ahead.

[stanne]

Paxton knows just as well as Talarico what the internal polls are. If Paxton is way ahead, as the article suggests, there would be no reason to talk to him in front of an audience and put up with his slippery accusations

[ansel12]

I watched my first video of him this morning, if he gets elected he will be a major advancement in the left’s rewriting of not only the Bible, Christianity and history, but of all public discussion related to culture and politics.

[Dan in Wichita]

It’s also possible (we hope!) that Paxton knows he is going to win and doesn’t want to take a chance of an unforced error in the appearance on stage with Talarico. Talarico desperately needs a life preserver to save his campaign, and Paxton is refusing to throw him one.

[Dan in Wichita]

I can imagine real Texans, like those you find in the Hill Country, are opposed to a senate candidate who wants to destroy the Oil & Gas industry, curb beef production, who is okay with boys in girls' locker rooms, decries border security, and wants to disarm law-abiding citizens.

Talarico should not get a single vote from down-to-earth places like the Hill Country.

[ChuckHam]

Talafreako has been running ads for the last few weeks backtracking on his record. I laugh every time I see one of those ads. I really laugh at the ones that show people saying they don’t care about party and have sometimes voted for republicans but are now going to vote for the good man Talafreako.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Don’t listen to the headlines. GO VOTE

^^^^^ YES, YES, YES!!! THIS. ^^^^^

[BK_in Central Texas]

Well that’s true as those areas are 80+% hard Republican counties. I live in Boerne (Kendall county) another 80% R county. The problem is Paxton is not a very likeable human being (let alone politician). This would be a tough race with Cornyn it is a very tough race with Paxton as Republican’s (even in Texas) have to feel good about their guy while Dems just pull the lever.

[Night Hides Not]

Over the last few weeks, I spent time in the Texas Hill Country in towns like Llano, Kerrville and even Luckenbach, and there is no support for Talarico.

Considering that Luckenbach has less than 5 residents, I don't think that's going to tip any scales...lol.

There's an obvious reason that you don't see any Paxton signs: we don't want to see any property damage to our homes from extreme leftists just looking for any target to vandalize.

Outside of blue cities, there's very little support of Talarico. 2026 will be a replay of 2018 and 2024, i.e. Paxton will come through to win, albeit by a slim margin.

[PGalt]

Talarico stinks. The stockyards around Amarillo smell better.

[oldplayer]

Lots of Talarico signs in suburban Houston. Outnumbering Paxton signs in previously deep Red areas. I’m concerned women are turning their households blue.

[SMARTY]

HOW can he hold political office with a 'mental health' concern on his bio??

For sure-he'd NEVER get clearance for involvement on any important/sensitive issues!!!!

[Bon of Babble]

Gee, now he’s trying that old lefty trick: Campaign on the Right to get into office and then once there...(don’t fall for it!!).

I think he has internal polling showing he is losing to Paxton despite what the msm polls say.

Do not forget his political stances:

Prosecute ICE agents who have abused their power. (Jan 2026)

— Talarico gets to say what constitutes “abused their power.”

Diversify energy production, accelerate renewables. (Feb 2026)

- i.e., go after the oil industry as Newsom has in California - price of a gallon of gas: ≈ $6.00/gallon.

Allow every American regardless of age to join Medicare. (Feb 2026)

— regardless of immigration status.

Create pathways for certain undocumented immigrants. (Feb 2026)

— Amnesty for all illegals.