James Talarico
ON THE RECORD · 40 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“My faith teaches me to love my neighbour as myself. Not just my neighbour who looks like me, not just my neighbour who prays like me, not just my neighbour who votes like me,”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Talarico delivered this message in his victory speech after winning the Democratic nomination for Texas's open Senate seat.
“I am called to love all of my neighbours the way I love myself.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Talarico declared to supporters that his faith calls him to love all of his neighbours.
“I’ve never even been to Ohio.”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-12 · reported 2026-10-15
Talarico replied to the Lindner Center of Hope's post, denying he had ever been to Ohio.
“We may have different, moral conclusions when it comes to this particular ethical question, but we actually have the same public policy goal,”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-15
Talarico framed abortion as a public health issue, arguing voters with different moral conclusions can share the same public policy goal.
“False claims got millions of views online and this is an example of what I call the ‘rage economy’,”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-15
Talarico addressed a disinformation campaign that falsely accused him of receiving mental health treatment in Ohio.
“What I was saying is actually not controversial theologically: the idea that we can’t define God using human categories. Not only did I say that, but the late Charlie Kirk said that – the late Pope Benedict said that.”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-15
Talarico explained his remark about God being nonbinary, arguing the idea that God cannot be defined by human categories is not theologically controversial.
“Billionaires who own these platforms get rich. We all get angry and nobody’s life gets any better. Conspiracy theories don’t put food on the table, put gas in the tank, or improve our communities.”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-15
Talarico criticized how billionaires profit from online outrage while conspiracy theories fail to improve people's lives.
“starting to feel kind of under the weather a few days ago”
James Talarico · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-10-15
Talarico explained via video at a Hispanic Business Council event that he had been diagnosed with the flu and would not appear in person.
“Too many Texans feel like they’re drowning, the cost of groceries, gas, healthcare,”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
James Talarico's campaign ad features him holding a paper bag of groceries while speaking about affordability.
“When I said that, I was being provocative and I want to admit that and come clean about that,”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-15
Talarico responded to a voter who questioned the authenticity of his faith over a past remark describing God as nonbinary.
“I was starting to feel under the weather a few days ago,”
James Talarico · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-10-13
Talarico addressed a virtual Q&A audience after pulling out of an in-person event due to illness.
“It wasn't anything worse than a nasty case of the flu. And so I was in bed and, you know, drinking lots of liquids. Unfortunately, the campaign made me work from home, so I didn't even get full days off,”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-13
Talarico told a local NBC reporter he had been bedridden with the flu and working from home during his absence.
“And last night it got so bad that I went to the urgent care here in Dallas and I was diagnosed with the flu. So I'm running a fever and I'm at my most contagious right now.”
James Talarico · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-10-13
Talarico told a virtual Q&A audience he had been diagnosed with the flu at an urgent care clinic in Dallas.
“It's a good reminder that you can't believe everything you read on the internet.”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-13
Talarico denied rumors that he had sought mental health treatment in Ohio during his campaign absence, speaking to a local NBC station.
“Feeling much better. Back on the trail!”
James Talarico · said 2026-10-09 · reported 2026-10-13
Talarico texted CBS News on the same day he made his first public appearance of the month at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
“I brought Democrats and Republicans together to pass 60 bipartisan bills that lower people’s costs and get the economy back on track,”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Talarico said in a Fox News interview that he brought both parties together to pass 60 bipartisan bills.
“I am proud of my legislative track record delivering for Texans.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Talarico said in an interview with Fox News that he is proud of his legislative track record delivering for Texans.
“I'll put my record up against Ken Paxton’s every day of the week and twice on Sunday.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Talarico said in a Fox News interview that he would put his record up against Ken Paxton's.
“the most corrupt politician in Texas.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Talarico ran a campaign ad in which he called his Republican opponent Ken Paxton this phrase.
“working with districts, nonprofits, and communities to build excellent and equitable educational opportunities for all our students.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Talarico stated in a 2019 Facebook post announcing he was joining MAYA Consulting that he would work with districts and communities on educational opportunities.
“some of the best drag queens in the nation.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-14
Talarico offered 2023 praise for Texas drag queens, a remark now used as a line of attack in the Senate race.
“missed the mark on some of my past statements.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-14
Asked by Fox News the prior week about his controversial comments on gender, Talarico acknowledged missing the mark on some past statements.
“Oh, my gosh. Probably Alyssa Edwards.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-14
Talarico immediately named Alyssa Edwards when asked at a campaign event for his favorite Texas drag queen.
“We're grateful for the president for the nickname.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Talarico said he is grateful to the president for the 'Talafreako' nickname.
“they are terrified of this movement we're building in Texas, working people, coming together across party and race, and gender, and religion, and culture, to take on the people at the top who have been screwing us over for far too long.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Talarico said opponents are terrified of the movement his campaign is building in Texas.
“You know what actually disrespects Jesus is bombing innocent school children in Iran, and sending our brave men and women off to die in another forever war.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Talarico continued his response to Trump, saying bombing innocent school children in Iran and sending troops to die in forever wars disrespects Jesus.
“the most dangerous form of cancel culture.”
James Talarico · said 2026-09-10 · reported 2026-09-11
Speaking on MS NOW, Talarico called the government's pressure on media the most dangerous form of cancel culture.
“And that, again, should be a concern to everyone who believes in the First Amendment and believes in the freedom of speech.”
James Talarico · said 2026-09-10 · reported 2026-09-11
Talarico said the censorship should concern everyone who believes in the First Amendment and freedom of speech.
“It's actually the fastest selling item on our website,”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Talarico said the 'Talafrico' T-shirts launched in response to Trump's mocking are the fastest selling item on his campaign website.
“Well, they're worried that we're going to win this race in Texas. We're not just going up against the most corrupt politician in Texas. We're going up against this entire corrupt system.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Talarico replied to Kimmel's question about why opponents are scared of him.
“underdogs until the last vote is counted,”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Talarico described his supporters as underdogs in the Texas Senate race.
“People at the top, powerful politicians, powerful media executives censoring what we watch, what we read, what we — what we say,”
James Talarico · said 2026-09-10 · reported 2026-09-11
Speaking on MS NOW, Talarico described powerful politicians and media executives censoring what people watch, read, and say.
“You said I'm disrespecting Jesus. You want to know what actually disrespects Jesus? Kicking the sick off their health care to give tax cuts to billionaires?”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Talarico responded to Trump's claim that electing him would be insulting to Jesus by saying cutting health care for the sick to fund billionaire tax cuts is what truly disrespects Jesus.
“When did pedophilia become a partisan issue? When did holding sexual abusers accountable become controversial?”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Talarico spoke in Dallas alongside an Epstein victim at an exhibit of DOJ files related to Epstein.
“Ken Paxton has two choices: he can stand with these survivors and get justice, or he can continue to cover up Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. The choice is entirely his.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Talarico said Paxton could either stand with survivors or continue to cover up Epstein's abuse.
“Our attorney general here in Texas has the power to get justice for these survivors, and he’s refusing to do so,”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Talarico said Epstein survivors had requested to meet with Paxton but he had refused.
“like being the leader in cassette tapes in the 1980s.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-04
Talarico mocked Texas's oil and gas industry as a dying industry comparable to being the leader in cassette tapes in the 1980s.
“That industry is not gonna last.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-04
Talarico predicted with obvious satisfaction that the oil and gas industry is not going to last.
“I’m so thankful that you asked this question and also thankful that young activists have really drawn the link between climate change and White supremacy and capitalism in our country ... And I think only ending the ways that all three of those oppressive systems work together are we gonna be able to begin the process of dismantling them.”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-04
Talarico delivered these remarks at a 2020 climate conference hosted by the Austin chapter of the Sierra Club.
“I’ve been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton’s first indictment”
James Talarico · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30
James Talarico joked in response to political opponents accusing him of being a vegan.