James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, offered a brief show of support for congressional candidate Frederick Haynes III at a get-out-the-vote event Thursday. The appearance was part of Talarico’s “Clear Eyes Full Hearts” tour.
After Haynes introduced him and spoke to the crowd, Talarico praised him as the next congressman and thanked him for serving the community. Talarico has not formally endorsed Haynes, but the moment comes as he presents himself as a Democrat who can appeal to a state that leans Republican. He has also been trying to move past remarks that Republicans have described as “woke.”
Haynes, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, often discusses politics through the lens of race. At the event, he compared President Donald Trump’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Ku Klux Klan, saying ICE had become a source of terror. He also called for the agency to be abolished.
Haynes is seeking the seat held by Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat who left the House to run for the Senate and ultimately lost. On the campaign trail, Haynes has described climate policy as a way to confront environmental racism. He has also accused conservatives and the Trump administration of exploiting fears about Black progress.
In an October interview, Haynes said Black people and the idea of Black advancement had been portrayed as a threat. He argued that the country was seeing the dismantling of democratic institutions built through the civil rights movement.
Before running for Congress, Haynes made similar arguments in his public comments. After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed, Haynes criticized Kirk’s views as rooted in white supremacy and contrasted his death with the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. Haynes also condemned Kirk’s killing and political violence.
Haynes has voiced support for reparations, saying the country owed Black Americans for past wrongdoing. At a reparations event in San Francisco, he argued that making amends was necessary for the country’s moral renewal.
Talarico has also backed reparations, describing the idea as connected to his religious beliefs and saying past injustices should be addressed. In the final stretch of his campaign, he has argued that he can represent Texas as a moderate despite holding views on race and gender that differ from conservative positions.
In October, Talarico said his campaign had shown that a candidate could be moderate and reasonable while still generating excitement. His campaign did not respond to a request for comment on whether his praise of Haynes should be taken as support for Haynes’ political platform or his views on race.
