Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico is trying to present himself as a more moderate candidate on immigration, gun rights and social issues as Republicans move quickly to define him as too liberal for the state.
Talarico, a Democratic member of the Texas House, is running against Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton in one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 election cycle. Democrats see the race as a rare chance to compete statewide in Texas, while Republicans are trying to make the contest a referendum on border security, crime, guns and culture-war issues.
During a recent interview on “Cogdell Law Uncensored,” Talarico criticized former President Joe Biden’s handling of the southern border and described himself as a “border security Democrat.” He said Biden-era policies contributed to “utter chaos” along the border and argued that Democrats should support a “sane, orderly process” for immigration.
The comments mark a clear attempt to appeal to moderate and independent voters in a state where border security remains one of the most important issues. Texas has been at the center of national immigration debates for years, and Republican campaigns have repeatedly used the border to attack Democratic candidates.
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Talarico’s shift has drawn scrutiny because Republicans say his new message conflicts with some of his past comments. Conservative critics have pointed to earlier remarks in which he sharply criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement and opposed Republican-backed border legislation. They argue that his campaign is trying to rebrand him now that he is running statewide.
Talarico’s campaign rejects that characterization. His press secretary, JT Ennis, told Fox News Digital that Talarico has “never supported abolishing ICE” and supports more border security, including modernizing ports of entry and increasing the number of Border Patrol agents.
The campaign’s position is that both parties have failed on immigration and that the country should focus on removing criminals while avoiding broad enforcement actions against families, workers and long-term residents who have contributed to the economy.
The debate over Talarico’s immigration record has already become a central issue in the race. Republicans have promoted clips and statements portraying him as an open-border progressive. However, at least one viral clip involving his past “welcome mat” comments has drawn fact-checking scrutiny. AFP reported that the clip was deceptively edited because it cut off the rest of Talarico’s analogy, in which he also said the border should have “a lock on the door.”
That does not end the political problem for Talarico. Even if some attacks are missing context, his past progressive language gives Paxton and national Republicans material to argue that he is only moving to the center because he is running in a conservative state.
Talarico is also trying to position himself as a defender of the Second Amendment while supporting gun restrictions that he describes as common sense. In the podcast interview, he said he believes in the right to bear arms and does not “pick and choose” between parts of the Bill of Rights. At the same time, he said no constitutional right is absolute and called for measures such as background checks and safe storage laws.
That balancing act is likely to be tested in Texas, where gun rights are a major political issue. Republicans are expected to highlight Talarico’s past support for policies such as red flag laws and his earlier criticism of GOP lawmakers after mass shootings. His campaign argues that his position is consistent with the views of many Texans who support both gun ownership and restrictions aimed at keeping firearms away from dangerous people.
The campaign is also trying to clarify Talarico’s position on transgender-related issues. In the interview, he said he opposes gender reassignment surgery for minors, while also accusing political leaders of using the issue to distract voters from corruption and other problems.
Republicans have repeatedly attacked Talarico over his past comments supporting transgender youth and his votes against Texas legislation restricting gender-related medical care for minors. His campaign says he opposes surgery for minors but will continue to speak against political attacks on children and families.
The issue is politically sensitive and requires careful wording. Talarico’s critics argue that his past votes and statements show he is out of step with Texas voters. His supporters argue that he is trying to defend vulnerable young people while avoiding the more extreme labels Republicans are attaching to him.
The broader race is already becoming aggressive. Paxton, who won the Republican nomination with Trump’s support, has framed Talarico as a far-left candidate aligned with national Democrats. Talarico, meanwhile, is trying to argue that Paxton is too tied to Trump and too distracted by political fights to focus on Texas issues.
The contest has gained additional attention because Houston attorney Dan Cogdell, who represented Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial, recently endorsed Talarico. Cogdell said Paxton had become too focused on pleasing Trump and not enough on issues such as education and health care. Talarico’s campaign has used the endorsement to show that some Republicans and independents may be open to supporting him.
Still, Texas remains a difficult state for Democrats. The party has not won a statewide race there in decades, and Republicans continue to have strong advantages in voter registration, rural turnout and conservative media ecosystems. For Talarico to win, he would likely need to hold Democratic voters, win over suburban moderates and cut into Republican margins among voters who dislike Paxton.
That is why his recent messaging matters. By criticizing Biden’s border record, defending some gun rights and distancing himself from more controversial positions, Talarico is trying to avoid being boxed in as a national progressive. But each move toward the center gives Republicans a chance to accuse him of political reinvention.
The race is likely to become a test of whether a Democrat can run competitively in Texas by combining progressive economic themes with more moderate language on border security and culture-war issues. It will also test whether Paxton’s own controversies create enough space for Democrats to make a serious statewide push.
For now, Talarico’s strategy is clear: acknowledge concerns about border security and public safety, while arguing that Republicans have failed to solve the problems they campaign on. Paxton’s strategy is just as clear: tie Talarico to past progressive statements and national Democratic politics.
The result could make the Texas Senate race one of the most expensive and closely watched contests of the cycle.
Why It Matters
This matters because Texas is one of the hardest states for Democrats to win statewide, and Talarico’s campaign appears to be trying to appeal beyond the party’s progressive base.
It also matters because immigration, gun rights and transgender-related issues are likely to define the race. How Talarico handles those topics could determine whether he can compete with Paxton in a conservative state.
What Comes Next
Republicans are expected to keep highlighting Talarico’s past comments and votes, especially on ICE, border policy, guns and transgender youth.
Talarico’s campaign will likely continue presenting him as a border-security Democrat who supports gun rights with restrictions and wants to focus on corruption, education, health care and public safety.
Dan Cogdell, who previously defended Ken Paxton, said he is endorsing James Talarico in the Texas Senate race, arguing that Paxton has lost sight of his core mission.
BREAKING: Ken Paxton’s own lawyer just endorsed James Talarico:
“I defended Ken Paxton for years in the impeachment trial and in state criminal cases. But in my view, I think Ken has lost sight of his core mission, which is to represent the people of Texas.
And unlike Ken, I… pic.twitter.com/RqQPLNzy9S
— Tironianae 🍊🍊 Z. – Ultra Verbum Vincet (@Tironianae) June 9, 2026
