# Texas Republican backs Democrat James Talarico despite local backlash

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/meet-the-republicans-who-are-secretly-voting-democrat-in-the-midterms-despite-a-brutal-backlash-waiting-at-home/
- Published: 2026-10-24T18:41:49+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:02:17+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16233283/republicans-secretly-vote-democrat-texas.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Elections, Politics, World

## Key points

- James Edge, a lifelong Republican, says he is backing Democrat James Talarico.
- Edge reports losing friends and facing hostility after going public.
- Talarico needs Republican defections to win his Texas Senate race.

## Summary

Long-time Republican James Edge of Bryan, Texas, says he is backing Democrat James Talarico for the US Senate, becoming the first in his family to vote for a Democrat. His public endorsement has cost him some local friendships and prompted hostile responses, while highlighting the potential influence of Republicans unwilling to reveal their political shift.

Talarico, 37, is running against Republican Ken Paxton and is described as neck-and-neck with him; he needs Republican voters to switch sides to win Texas. Edge says elected Republicans and staffers have privately told him they agree but fear backlash. In swing Jefferson County, voter Karan Berman said Republicans she knows were staying with their party.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.