===james talarico===
James Dell Talarico ( born James Dell Causey, May 17, 1989) is an American politician, Presbyterian seminarian, and former public school teacher serving since 2018 as a member of the Texas House of Representatives.[A member of the Democratic Party, Talarico has been called a "rising star" among Texas Democrats. Born in Round Rock, Texas, Talarico graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in government. He later joined Teach For America, where he taught sixth-grade English language arts in San Antonio. Afterward, he served as the Central Texas executive director for Reasoning Mind, a nonprofit focused on bringing technology to low-income classrooms. He later graduated from Harvard University with a Master of Education degree in education policy. In the legislature, Talarico serves as vice chair of the Texas House's Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee and of the Subcommittee on Academic and Career-Oriented Education of the Public Education Committee. He is also a member of the Public Education and House Administration Committees. In September 2025, Talarico announced his candidacy for the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Texas.
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In Texas Talarico Takes on Christian Nationalism: “It’s a Perversion of Faith” In Texas, one of the most conservative states in the United States, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has openly challenged Christian nationalists, accusing them of using faith for political purposes and confronting the state’s conservative evangelical wing head-on. Talarico, a state legislator and theology student, has turned his campaign into a direct counteroffensive against so-called “Christian nationalism.” The 36-year-old argues that Christian faith has often been exploited by conservative religious leaders to support right-wing policies– a practice he calls “fundamentally un-Christian” and “a perversion of faith.” With his message, Talarico positions himself as a Christian committed to following the Gospels, while criticizing those who use religion as a political tool to promote anti-abortion laws, weaken the separation of church and state, and place religious symbols in public schools. The rising star of the Democratic Party aims to put the values of compassion, inclusion, and aid for the poor back at the center of American politics. (VNY; 3.10.26)READMORE>>>>>> |
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Who Is James Talarico and Why Is He a Rising Christian Political Star?
These days, I’m asked more about James Talarico than I’m asked about any politician not named Donald Trump. Talarico is a 36-year-old Texas state representative and the Democratic Party’s latest and greatest hope for winning its first statewide election there in more than 30 years. He’s also one of the most faith-forward politicians in the United States. Talarico doesn’t just root his policies and ideology in his Christian beliefs, he’s a seminarian willing to dive deep into theology. When he’s arguing with the religious right about, say, Christian nationalism, he makes a specifically Christian argument to counter a poisonous Christian movement. (GV Wire; 3.9.26)READMORE>>>>>>
These days, I’m asked more about James Talarico than I’m asked about any politician not named Donald Trump. Talarico is a 36-year-old Texas state representative and the Democratic Party’s latest and greatest hope for winning its first statewide election there in more than 30 years. He’s also one of the most faith-forward politicians in the United States. Talarico doesn’t just root his policies and ideology in his Christian beliefs, he’s a seminarian willing to dive deep into theology. When he’s arguing with the religious right about, say, Christian nationalism, he makes a specifically Christian argument to counter a poisonous Christian movement. (GV Wire; 3.9.26)READMORE>>>>>>
James Talarico Wins Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate Race in Texas
State Rep. James Talarico, the 36-year-old former middle school teacher who built a national profile by fusing progressive politics with unapologetic Christian faith, won the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in Texas, the Associated Press called early Wednesday after Tuesday’s election, defeating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in one of the most closely watched and expensive primaries in the country. “Tonight, the people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope,” Talarico told a crowd of supporters just after midnight, as he held a commanding lead. “And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.”(Time; 3.4.26)READMORE>>>>>>
State Rep. James Talarico, the 36-year-old former middle school teacher who built a national profile by fusing progressive politics with unapologetic Christian faith, won the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in Texas, the Associated Press called early Wednesday after Tuesday’s election, defeating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in one of the most closely watched and expensive primaries in the country. “Tonight, the people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope,” Talarico told a crowd of supporters just after midnight, as he held a commanding lead. “And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.”(Time; 3.4.26)READMORE>>>>>>
OPINION: God is nonpartisan, Jesus isn’t a registered voter and other uncensored lessons
Democrat James Talarico is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, but thanks to an act of presidential bullying and corporate kowtowing, his important message echoed across the land this week. Fearing the sanction of President Donald Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) police, on Monday pigeon-hearted CBS executives killed Talarico’s interview with Stephen Colbert. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is already scheduled to go off the air in May — purely a “financial decision,” you understand — but this wasn’t designed as a test run. It was blatant censorship. Wielding the FCC like a cudgel, the president continues to intimidate comedians and news networks. As Trump’s popularity slides and midterm elections approach, he doesn’t have to strain to see MAGA-red Texas losing steam and the Republicans’ hold on their majority in Congress slipping. And yet too often his attempts to bully the networks have worked.
(The Nevada Independent 2.22.26) READMORE>>>>>
Democrat James Talarico is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, but thanks to an act of presidential bullying and corporate kowtowing, his important message echoed across the land this week. Fearing the sanction of President Donald Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) police, on Monday pigeon-hearted CBS executives killed Talarico’s interview with Stephen Colbert. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is already scheduled to go off the air in May — purely a “financial decision,” you understand — but this wasn’t designed as a test run. It was blatant censorship. Wielding the FCC like a cudgel, the president continues to intimidate comedians and news networks. As Trump’s popularity slides and midterm elections approach, he doesn’t have to strain to see MAGA-red Texas losing steam and the Republicans’ hold on their majority in Congress slipping. And yet too often his attempts to bully the networks have worked.
(The Nevada Independent 2.22.26) READMORE>>>>>
What James Talarico gets wrong — and right — about Christianity
By now, you’ve heard of the controversy surrounding CBS lawyers’ decision not to air Stephen Colbert’s interview with Texas candidate for U.S. Senate James Talarico (D) — likely for fear of offending President Trump’s FCC. This all but guaranteed that everyone immediately wanted to see it.
Media observers call this the “Streisand effect,” which occurs when an attempt to hide something makes it more famous — named for Barbra Streisand’s effort to suppress aerial photos taken of her home in 2003. ”This unexpected attention could give Talarico a meaningful boost in his upcoming Democratic primary. If he ultimately wins the nomination — and the subsequent Senate campaign — the ripple effects could extend far beyond Texas, potentially flipping the U.S. Senate to Democratic control.
. (The Hill 2.21.26) READMORE>>>>>
By now, you’ve heard of the controversy surrounding CBS lawyers’ decision not to air Stephen Colbert’s interview with Texas candidate for U.S. Senate James Talarico (D) — likely for fear of offending President Trump’s FCC. This all but guaranteed that everyone immediately wanted to see it.
Media observers call this the “Streisand effect,” which occurs when an attempt to hide something makes it more famous — named for Barbra Streisand’s effort to suppress aerial photos taken of her home in 2003. ”This unexpected attention could give Talarico a meaningful boost in his upcoming Democratic primary. If he ultimately wins the nomination — and the subsequent Senate campaign — the ripple effects could extend far beyond Texas, potentially flipping the U.S. Senate to Democratic control.
. (The Hill 2.21.26) READMORE>>>>>
Texas Senate race: Talarico appears on Colbert, Cornyn uses religious ad
Late night television fans got a glimpse of one of the leading U.S. Senate candidates in Texas this week.
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" Monday, Feb. 16, in a segment that aired on YouTube because of ongoing pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under President Donald Trump's administration. “I think Donald Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas," Talarico said in a news release. "This is the party that ran against cancel culture. Now they’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, and what we read. This is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top. A threat to one of our first amendment rights is a threat to all of our first amendment rights.”
. (El Paso Times 2.18.26) READMORE>>>>>
Late night television fans got a glimpse of one of the leading U.S. Senate candidates in Texas this week.
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" Monday, Feb. 16, in a segment that aired on YouTube because of ongoing pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under President Donald Trump's administration. “I think Donald Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas," Talarico said in a news release. "This is the party that ran against cancel culture. Now they’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, and what we read. This is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top. A threat to one of our first amendment rights is a threat to all of our first amendment rights.”
. (El Paso Times 2.18.26) READMORE>>>>>