James Talarico Moderates 3 Key Positions in Texas Senate Race Against Ken Paxton

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 12

James Talarico used a podcast interview this week to recast himself as a moderate Democrat, backing tougher border security, defending the Second Amendment and opposing gender-reassignment surgeries for minors.
The shift comes as the Texas Democratic Senate nominee tries to blunt attacks that he is too liberal for a statewide race against Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton in November.
On immigration, Talarico criticized Joe Biden’s border record and called himself a “border security Democrat,” despite past remarks describing ICE as “secret police” and urging resistance to the agency.
He also paired support for gun ownership with background checks and safe-storage laws, while distancing himself from the left on firearms and from earlier support for red-flag laws.
His campaign says he has consistently favored more border security, deporting criminals and opposing surgeries for minors, but it did not provide evidence he broke with Biden before launching his Senate bid.