Democratic state‑house candidate James Talarico visited Midland on Tuesday, holding a rally at The Loft as part of his “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” tour. The event, reported by KOSA, came just days before the Nov. 3 election and drew a packed crowd of supporters, including several first‑time voters.
Talarico, who has not visited Midland since March, framed the tour’s name after the popular series Friday Night Lights, saying, “Clear eyes, full hearts can’t lose. There is a moment in every game, the last play of the last drive where you have to leave it all on the field. Midland, we are in that moment.” He warned that “in the final days of the election, they are coming at us with everything they got.”
The candidate outlined a series of anti‑corruption measures he would pursue if elected. He called for overturning Citizens United, banning corporate PACs and super PACs, and prohibiting members of Congress from trading stocks while in office. Talarico also said he would work to end gerrymandering and introduce term limits for elected officials.
Among the audience were 18‑ and 19‑year‑old first‑time voters Valeria Valdez and Iliana McEwn, who described the event as “surreal” and expressed excitement about seeing a large turnout in a traditionally Republican area. Former Muleshoe mayor and former Republican Victor Leal also spoke, noting his support for Talarico’s anti‑money‑in‑politics stance and describing the candidate as a “servant leader.”
Edgar Sierra, who said he had not voted in ten years, said he was motivated by “integrity” to cast his vote for Talarico. Supporter Jason E. Fuller highlighted the candidate’s outreach to West Texas’s small Black community and praised his efforts on voter registration and redistricting reform.
The rally underscored the growing engagement of younger and diverse voters in West Texas, a region historically dominated by Republican candidates. While the event attracted enthusiastic local participation, it also reflected the broader statewide contest as both parties vie for control of the Texas Legislature.
What’s next: After Midland, Talarico’s “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” tour will continue to Amarillo and Lubbock before the Nov. 3 election, giving voters in those cities a chance to hear his platform and meet the candidate in person.
Sources: firstalert7.com
