Talarico Calls Texas Senate Race a Fight Against Wealthy Elites
The Democratic candidate argues that Latino voters, nearly a third of the state's electorate, are key to breaking Republican dominance in November.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
James Talarico, a 37-year-old state legislator and Presbyterian seminarian, is pursuing a Senate seat in Texas that Democrats have not won since 1988. In an interview conducted in Houston, the candidate framed the upcoming midterms not as a partisan clash, but as a conflict between ordinary Americans and wealthy interests.
Talarico stated that the central struggle is against millionaires and corrupt politicians who have exploited the public. He noted that many voters supported Donald Trump in 2024 expecting lower prices and an end to corruption, but argued that the administration has done the opposite. He described the current environment as one where inflation persists and institutional trust has eroded.
The candidate emphasized the pivotal role of Latino voters, who comprise nearly a third of Texas’s electorate. A YouGov poll indicates that 56% of Hispanic voters in the state believe immigration enforcement has gone too far. Talarico criticized the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, describing it as a secret police force under the current administration.
He cited a July incident in Houston where an ICE agent shot and killed Mexican worker Lorenzo Salgado Araújo. Talarico proposed specific limits on ICE, including banning masked agents, requiring body cameras, and ensuring officers have true police experience. He also supports comprehensive immigration reform that pairs border security with a path to citizenship for long-term undocumented residents.
The race has become the most expensive non-presidential contest in U.S. history, with over $573.2 million spent on advertising according to AdImpact. Talarico’s rival, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, has spent approximately $274.1 million, with 92% of that total coming from outside groups. Elon Musk is the primary benefactor of those groups, having contributed at least $168 million to entities backing Paxton, per CNN.
Talarico plans to campaign against super PACs, organizations that can accept unlimited donations without coordinating directly with candidates. His own campaign is supported by a super PAC that has received at least $11.5 million from Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn. When asked about the contrast in funding, Talarico said the difference could not be larger, arguing that Musk wants his own senator.
The candidate said voters will send a clear message on November 3. He maintained that while the asylum system needs review, anyone with a legitimate request should be allowed to seek refuge. He proposed hiring more immigration judges to process cases and weed out fraudulent claims, asserting that Texas is not for sale.
