Talarico says he ‘missed the mark’ as he backtracks on controversial woke statements
Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico used a Fox News interview to walk back several of his most controversial past remarks, saying he would support a national ban on gender-transition surgery for minors and that he opposes transgender women competing in girls' and women's sports where it affects safety or fairness. The shift comes as Talarico's race against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which polling suggests is unexpectedly tight, enters its closing months in a contest both parties view as pivotal to control of the Senate and, by extension, President Donald Trump's legislative agenda.
Talarico defended his 2023 vote against a Texas bill banning gender surgery, puberty blockers and hormone treatments for minors, saying it was "overly broad" and that he had unsuccessfully backed a Democratic amendment to narrow its scope. He also disowned two widely quoted 2021 comments, that "God is non-binary" and that there are six genders, calling the God remark "provocative" and admitting he "missed the mark," insisting there are only two sexes aside from a small proportion of people with genetic differences. The interview took place at a Dallas campaign event on Tuesday, held near the site of the first-ever GOP midterm convention, and Talarico continued to criticise his opponents despite softening his own past positions.
In short
- Talarico now backs banning gender surgery for minors, opposing trans athletes in women's sports.
- He disavowed past claims that "God is non-binary" and there are six genders.
- Comes amid a tight, high-stakes Texas Senate race against Ken Paxton.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Talarico’s revised positions may reassure voters concerned about minors’ medical decisions and fairness or safety in women’s sport, while his explanation of the 2023 vote offers a case for tailoring legislation rather than imposing a broad ban. A candidate can also reasonably clarify or correct past remarks when he believes they were provocative or imprecise, especially in a closely contested race.
The case against
Critics may argue that Talarico’s earlier vote and remarks better reflect his underlying views, and that his recent reversals raise questions about consistency and political expediency. They may also contend that a national ban on transition-related care for minors would restrict families’ and clinicians’ ability to make individual medical decisions, while broad exclusions from women’s sport could unfairly limit transgender athletes.
Explained simply
Texas elects two US senators, who help make federal laws and confirm senior government appointments. The Senate is closely divided, so the state’s contest between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is being watched nationally.
Talarico is a state lawmaker seeking a seat in Washington; Paxton is Texas’s attorney general, the state’s chief legal officer. Their campaign has drawn attention to disagreements over transgender rights, including medical treatment for minors and rules for women’s sport.
These debates involve questions about young people’s healthcare, fairness in competition and how laws should protect different groups. The outcome could affect which party controls the Senate and how readily President Donald Trump can advance his legislative priorities.