Change in Stance by Texas Senate Candidate

Democratic candidate for the Texas Senate, James Talarico, seems to be shifting his position on child gender reassignment procedures.

“I oppose gender reassignment surgery on minors,” Talarico shared during a podcast with Houston lawyer Dan Cogdell, suggesting a theme of “uniting over dividing.” This marks a departure from his previous remarks, where he referred to such surgeries as “life-saving medicine.”

His campaign has not yet provided a response to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The former public school teacher and current Presbyterian seminarian’s latest comments contrast with what he had said before securing the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in March. In a May 2023 episode of the Superbloom Podcast, Talarico expressed affection for transgender youth who advocated for their rights at the state capitol, stating, “I love the transgender kids who showed up.” He also mentioned that he had considered a bill aimed at restricting medical services for transgender minors, which ultimately did not advance.

Talarico previously stated, “There were trans activists, trans children, and trans parents of trans children in the gallery who also staged a peaceful protest and were removed…,” recalling an incident involving law enforcement during the protest.

In 2023, he voted against the statewide ban on gender reassignment surgery for minors. Talarico is set to compete against Republican candidate and current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the upcoming November election.

Cogdell, who represented Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial, has now backed Talarico.