James Talarico’s Town Hall in Fort Worth

On Wednesday, James Talarico, a Democrat, sought to connect with Republicans and independents during a town hall in Fort Worth, aiming to flip a Texas U.S. Senate seat blue for the first time in over three decades.

However, his approach seemed to involve some questionable claims.

‘That industry is not gonna last.’

Along with stating that “the Bible is silent on the issue of abortion,” Talarico made several controversial comments during the CNN and Jubilee-hosted event.

One attendee raised concerns about border security, mentioning it “regardless of what party was in the White House,” and asked if federal law should mandate the removal of undocumented immigrants without legal justification to remain. Talarico responded, “Texans understand this issue of immigration better than most people around the country because we live with it,” acknowledging both challenges and benefits.

He criticized both political parties for their failures, particularly pointing to the Biden administration’s “unacceptable” methods in dealing with the border crisis while also taking issue with some strategies used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Talarico identified himself as a “border security Democrat.” But, this identity seemed at odds with various positions he has previously taken:

• His campaign website suggests a welcoming approach to immigration, saying, “our border should be like a front porch” with “a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door,” proposing pathways to legalization for specific undocumented immigrants;
• In 2019, he proposed reallocating Texas’ $800 million border security budget to public education, arguing that bolstering physical border security does not address the root issues;
• That same year, he distributed documents advising immigrants on resisting ICE enforcement;
• He has criticized Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s border security initiatives, labeling them “atrocities”;
• He voted against a bill to provide an additional $1.8 billion in funding for border security in 2021;
• He also opposed a 2023 measure intended to strengthen border security and combat transnational crime;
• In 2023, he voted against expanding the authority of federal immigration agents in Texas;
• And in the same year, he voted against making entry into Texas from another country a state crime.

The National Border Patrol Council commented on Talarico’s claims, stating, “JAMES TALARICO DOES NOT SUPPORT BORDER SECURITY: Talarico’s false claim that he called out the Biden Administration for failing on the border is nothing more than a #FakeNews political ad.”

Aside from presenting himself as a supporter of strong border security, Talarico also acted as if he endorsed ICE during the town hall.

CNN’s Erin Burnett asked him, “Do you support abolishing ICE or not?” Talarico flatly responded, “No, and I never have.” But he had previously led a “Stop ICE rally,” accusing the agency of terrorizing communities and encouraging Texans to stand up against it.

He had made statements advocating for dismantling ICE and even called for accountability from Congress for the agency. Just months ago, he insisted on replacing the agency, yet on Wednesday, he stated, “We need Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country.”

To clarify this apparent contradiction, he described recent ICE actions as emblematic of a “secret police force,” which he claimed was not acceptable in the country.

Furthermore, Talarico appeared to downplay his former criticism of capitalism. Burnett pointed out past comments in which he described capitalism as an “oppressive system” that required dismantling. Talarico attempted to clarify, saying he was referring to “crony capitalism” rather than capitalism itself, though he had not mentioned that distinction previously.

His spokesperson indicated that Talarico is proud to identify as a capitalist while acknowledging the societal issues he believes need attention, including racism and economic inequality.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for his opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, labeled Talarico as a “democratic socialist” who threatens economic opportunities and supports increased taxes.

Talarico insisted he would oppose any Democratic efforts that would harm oil and gas jobs in Texas, even as he previously said, “That industry is not going to last,” referring to fossil fuels. He had also remarked that Texas should transition towards renewable energy sources.

The Talarico campaign has not yet commented on this evolving narrative.

As of now, recent polling indicates Talarico is leading Paxton by a slight margin, with 48.1% to 45.1%.