He might not be a tofu Talarico, but his girlfriend certainly is a fan of tofu.
The Texas Democratic Senate hopeful, James Talarico, is reportedly in a relationship with a vegan political lobbyist who once worked as his chief of staff—Briana Menard. At 30, she identifies as a “devout vegan,” enjoys yoga, and is a cat mom with a penchant for dancing at Cheer Up Charlie’s, a popular gay bar in Austin. Interestingly, she also plays a significant role as a director at a local food co-op.
“James was never a vegan, and still isn’t, much to the disappointment of his girlfriend. But, as they say, true love conquers all,” remarked Talarico’s spokesperson, JT Ennis, in a recent statement.
Even though Menard’s lifestyle choices suggest a strong commitment to veganism, Talarico, who garnered a solid majority in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas this past March, has flatly dismissed any claims about being a vegan himself. He even retorted to this accusation after his Republican rival, Ken Paxton, had a go at him regarding his eating habits.
“I’m an eighth-generation Texan,” he pointed out. “I’ve been enjoying barbecue since well before Ken Paxton faced his first indictment.”
In addition to his opponent’s commentary on non-binary issues and support for gender fluidity, Paxton has mocked Talarico with nicknames such as “Tofu Talarico” and “James Talafreaco.”
Talarico seems to embrace the latter, even using the phrase “I am Taraflaco” for his campaign t-shirts, which are priced at $36.
Menard and Talarico’s relationship began in January 2023, although they had first met in 2022 while she worked in his office.
Details about Talarico’s previously undisclosed Latina girlfriend surfaced earlier this month, when he initially chose to keep her identity a secret.
Menard has a publicly active role; she is currently lobbying for the Texas Medical Association, where she focuses on bipartisan initiatives aimed at enhancing child care access, workforce development, and affordable healthcare.
Interestingly, her organization has also been involved in discussions surrounding issues like puberty blockers and supporting gender-affirming care for young people.
While the party’s Political Action Committee has made contributions to Republicans, it did support Senator John Cornyn over Paxton during a recent primary.
Even though the campaign had previously withheld Menard’s details, she had been identified some time ago, managing to largely avoid the media spotlight.
Menard, who served as Talarico’s chief of staff before moving on to work for Rep. Salman Bojani, has been publicly acknowledged by her former boss. Talarico and Menard share a love for attending concerts, going hiking in Big Bend National Park, and cheering for the Texas Longhorns and the San Antonio Spurs.
Interestingly, Menard’s family has deep roots in Texas, with a notable ancestor, Michael B. Menard, who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Talarico’s goal is to overcome Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the upcoming March 3 Democratic primary and to become the first non-Republican to secure a statewide office since Ann Richards’ governorship in 1990.
Recently, Fox host Jesse Watters humorously questioned the veracity of Talarico’s claims, jokingly asking, “Does she live in Canada?” during his show.
