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Posted on 05/29/2026 3:56:28 PM PDT by JeepersFreepers
After cruising to the Democrat nomination for U.S. Senate in March, James Talarico now appears focused on a different challenge: convincing Texas general election voters he is more moderate than the progressive activist Republicans have spent years watching online.
Republicans are already framing the effort as a “moderate media makeover” ahead of what is expected to become the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history.
During an interview with CBS News the day after Paxton won the Republican Senate runoff, officially setting the general-election matchup, Talarico was asked about his assertion that there are six sexes and a 2021 statement in which he said, “God is non-binary.”
“What did you mean by that?” the interviewer asked. “Do you regret describing it that way?”
“God can’t be defined by human categories,” replied Talarico. “There are some statements I’ve made that I regret. Ken Paxton is intentionally clipping my cringey comments.”
Talarico’s latest acknowledgment that he regrets some past statements comes as he has increasingly softened or reframed previous comments on gender ideology, gun control, climate activism, and energy policy.
In one recent appearance on the Texas Take podcast, Talarico attempted to downplay his past support for gun control measures, insisting that “I’m not interested in taking anyone’s guns.”
Republicans quickly pointed to prior comments and legislation they argue tell a different story.
In a 2020 appearance as a surrogate for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden, Talarico said it “encourages violence against black sons and daughters” when President Donald Trump allows “weapons of war on our streets and in our classrooms.”
Republicans have also highlighted legislation backed by Talarico that sought additional restrictions on handgun sales and concealed carry permitting requirements.
Among the measures Republicans pointed to were proposals that would have imposed additional regulatory burdens related to handgun licensing, mirroring states like California and New York.
Talarico has similarly attempted to dismiss Republican attacks over his past climate activism.
On the Texas Take podcast appearance, Talarico argued Republicans fabricated claims that he was vegan.
However, in a 2022 campaign video Talarico announced his campaign would “go vegan” as part of efforts to combat what he described as an “existential climate crisis.”
The issue intersects with another difficult political vulnerability for Democrats in Texas: oil and gas policy.
In another recent podcast appearance with Democrat congressional candidate Bobby Pulido, Talarico attempted to position himself as supportive of the Texas energy industry.
“The idea that politicians in Washington think they can eliminate this industry is something we had to fight against, something we have to fight against in our own party,” said Talarico.
Republicans quickly countered by resurfacing climate proposals and activist rhetoric previously associated with Talarico, including legislation aimed at dramatically reducing statewide emissions and past activism promoting climate change curriculum mandates in public schools.
Conservatives online also circulated previous comments from Talarico discussing efforts to inspire a “new generation of climate activists,” as well as his participation in demonstrations inspired by activist Greta Thunberg.
In Texas, where the oil and gas industry remains deeply intertwined with the state’s economy and workforce, Republicans are expected to aggressively target Talarico’s past climate activism and emissions-reduction proposals.
According to industry figures, Texas leads the nation in oil and gas employment, with more than 476,000 direct jobs tied to the industry—nearly a quarter of all oil and gas workers in the United States. More than 2.5 million Texas jobs are estimated to be supported by the industry overall, while the sector accounted for roughly $385 billion in direct gross regional product in 2025, representing more than one-third of the Texas economy.
Republicans argue that proposals aimed at dramatically reducing emissions would disproportionately impact Texas compared to other states due to the outsized role energy production plays in the state’s economy.
“It is a real shame for James Talarico that the internet is forever, and he cannot hide just how much of a liberal lunatic he is,” RNC spokesman Zach Kraft told Texas Scorecard. “From going vegan for climate activism to claiming transgender kids are his favorite thing in the world, he has taken up every crazy left-wing crusade for the last decade, and a fake moderate media makeover won’t hide the truth.”
Texas Scorecard reached out to Talarico’s campaign for comment regarding the apparent shift in messaging but did not receive a response before publication.
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No doubt, Talafreako's will try to redefine himself as a moderate rather than the liberal lunatic he is. Negative ads against Paxton will not help. Cornyn has already spent $90 million or so trashing Paxton. Talfreako will have a hard time coming up with anything new to attack Paxton.
The race will be framed by the media as follows:
The hometown boy with downhome Texas values vs. corrupt, old, career politician.
It will be interesting to hear them sell what he has said in the past as down home Texas values. No doubt they will try
They tried the same thing with Beto. It didn’t work.
Honestly, the Paxton team did a good job of defining this guy before he could get out of the gate.
So basically he’s back-pedaling.
Thus, he’s a liar.
Well...they’ve got a template: Andy Beshear.
And he didn’t “sell” his radical leftist views - he just campaigned completely generically.
Great INSIGHT!
Incumbents have always made the argument that tough primary fights hurt the party's chances in November.
Well, that argument never worked for me because I've never been affiliated with any stinkin' party and have been loyal to the Republican Party only because elections are a binary choice.
The folk who have been loyal members and loyal donors have been stabbed in the back time and again by the GOPe leadership in the swamp.
The truth is entrenched incumbents need to spend a lot of money to get elected whether it is in the primary or the general because they have a failed record of not following through on former campaign promises.
I agree Paxton has weathered a 90 million dollar storm and is still standing.
Demonizing Paxton is not going to work any more than demonizing Trump worked.
The Democrats only message is the Republicans are bad and we're not Repubicans.
James Talarico now appears focused on a different challenge: fooling Texas general election voters into thinking he's not batshit crazy as the batshit crazy shit he has said.
There. Fixed it. <>
Nice try
Make Texas Vegan Again!
I think we've seen that already with Robert Frances "Beto" O'Rourke. The amazingly wealthy, spoiled, Irish kid that goes by a Spanish nickname.
I’ve always called him “Master Beto.”
“””Make Texas Vegan Again!”””
It is good to see Talerico promoting vegan to his loyal followers.
I understand with the high price of beef there is a shortage of brisket available for regular Texans to BBQ.
His campaign will be, “Vote for me. I am not who I am.”
That’s the other difference between Cornyn and Paxton.
Cornyn would never attack Talarico like that.
“Master Beto.”
~~~~
Perfect.
Where is he now? If I was a multimillionaire trust fund baby I could certainly find better uses of my money.
He better make sure he has a huge rear view mirror before he hurts himself backpedalling at full speed.
What an idiot. His cards are already on the table for all to see. But he’s going to bluff anyway?
All of his most disgusting dirt needs to be aired in the coming months. I’m sure there’s plenty of it.
I laugh just thinking of the spectacle he’ll be as he tries to “man up” more than he’s capable of doing.
“God is a non-gendered fairy” isn’t going to fly in Texas.
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