James Talarico, a Democratic Senate candidate in Texas, is currently facing scrutiny due to controversial social media posts made by his girlfriend, Brianna Menard. These posts, which have since been deleted, were made during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and included inflammatory remarks about law enforcement. Menard accused police of committing ‘genocide’ against Black Americans and expressed support for a convicted member of a militant group responsible for the deaths of police officers, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
Controversial Social Media Activity
Menard, who was dating Talarico while serving as his chief of staff in the Texas House, was active on social media during the height of the unrest following George Floyd’s death. Her posts featured Black Lives Matter imagery, including the movement’s raised fist symbol. In a notable exchange on May 30, 2020, she criticized radio host Bobby Bones for focusing on property damage rather than addressing what she described as the ‘genocide of black people.’
In June 2020, Menard shared a petition from the activist group Color of Change advocating for the release of Jalil Muntaqim, also known as Anthony Bottom. Muntaqim, a former member of the Black Liberation Army, was convicted for the 1975 killings of two New York City police officers. The petition described him as a respected community figure and called for clemency after he contracted COVID-19.
Impact on Talarico’s Campaign
The resurfacing of these posts has brought attention to the progressive activism surrounding Talarico, who secured the Democratic nomination in a state that favored Donald Trump by a wide margin in 2024. Talarico himself has faced criticism for past statements, including a remark that ‘God is non-binary,’ which he later expressed regret over. He has also been vocal about his concerns regarding police presence in schools, arguing that it contributes to a ‘culture of violence.’ Despite this, his campaign has clarified that he does not support defunding the police and has backed funding for law enforcement.
Menard’s professional background includes her role as Talarico’s chief of staff from early 2022 to early 2023, after which she moved to a similar position for another Texas Democratic lawmaker, Salman Bhojani. Currently, she serves as the director of TEXPAC, the political arm of the Texas Medical Association, which has been critical of Republican opposition to pediatric gender treatments. Menard also works with a local food co-op and describes herself as a ‘committed vegan’ online.
Additional social media posts from Menard show her using derogatory language for white people in discussions about critical race theory and making lighthearted comments about NBC political correspondent Steve Kornacki. Neither Talarico nor Menard responded to requests for comment regarding these posts.
Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.
