Dallas, Texas – In a Fox News interview conducted at a food‑drive campaign event in downtown Dallas, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico addressed several controversial statements he made while serving in the Texas House of Representatives. Talarico said he would vote for a national ban on pediatric gender treatments for minors and reiterated his opposition to transgender‑identified men competing in women’s sports.
Policy positions
When asked whether he would support a federal ban on gender‑affirming surgery for minors, Talarico answered, “Absolutely.” He explained that his earlier vote against a Texas bill that sought to ban such procedures was driven by concerns that the measure was overly broad. “I voted for an amendment to limit the bill to minors only,” he said, adding that the amendment ultimately failed.
On the issue of transgender athletes, Talarico said, “I oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it endangers safety or fairness.” He cited his background as a former public‑school teacher and his concern for student‑athletes as the basis for his position.
Backtracking on past remarks
Talarico also addressed comments he made in 2021 on the House floor, in which he said, “God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non‑binary.” He characterized the remark as provocative and clarified that he was attempting to convey that human categories cannot define the divine.
Regarding a 2021 statement that there are six genders, Talarico said he “missed the mark” and now believes there are only two sexes, with a small percentage of people having genetic variations. He emphasized that his earlier language was inaccurate and that the discussion about multiple genders was being used to distract from other policy issues.
Supreme Court reform and campaign focus
Talarico criticized the current Supreme Court, describing it as “infected” with corruption and saying it “needs to be overhauled.” He pledged to support reforms that would include binding codes of conduct for justices, term limits, and a discussion about expanding the number of justices.
Shifting to broader campaign themes, Talarico said his priority will be “affordability” for Texas families. He highlighted rising costs of groceries, gas, utilities, and healthcare, and reiterated his belief that Texas should not have a state income tax. He noted that he previously voted against a measure to permanently ban a state income tax, calling it redundant and an example of government waste.
Attack on opponent
Talarico labeled Attorney General Ken Paxton, his Republican opponent, “the most corrupt politician in Texas,” accusing Paxton of trying to distract from his own record. The Paxton campaign was not immediately available for comment.
Election context
The Texas Senate race is entering its final months and is considered pivotal for both parties’ chances of securing a Senate majority. While recent Fox News polling suggests a close contest, the race remains dynamic as candidates sharpen their messages on cultural, economic, and judicial issues.
Voters in Texas will head to the polls on November 5, 2026, to decide who will fill the seat currently held by Republican John Cornyn.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
