We have documented statements by James Talarico on 2026 Midterm Elections, Government Transparency, and Health Care, among other topics. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.
Role at the time: Texas state representative and U.S. Senate candidate, in a post on X
Condemned
Statement summary
James Talarico, a Texas state representative running for U.S. Senate, said Garces Perez entered the country legally and had no criminal record, that he was shot anyway, and that he slept on a cell floor with a bullet still in his back, unable to move his left side. Talarico called this "lawlessness," not law enforcement.
“Wilber came to this country legally. He has no criminal record. An ICE agent shot him anyway. He slept on a prison cell floor with a bullet still lodged in his back. He can't move the left side of his body. This isn't law enforcement. It's lawlessness.”
Talarico directly rejects the shooting as lawful conduct, condemning it rather than disputing only how it has been characterized or focusing solely on custody conditions.
Role at the time: Texas state representative and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate
Condemned
Statement summary
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, said in a statement on the Austin shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez that previous incidents have shown that "this agency" cannot be trusted to report all the facts. He called for a full, independent investigation that includes the release of any and all available footage.
“Previous incidents have shown that this agency cannot be trusted to report all the facts
We need a full, independent investigation that includes the release of any and all available footage.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)After Austin ICE shooting, officials demand body-camera footage and outside investigation · Austin American-StatesmanSection headed "James Talarico calls for independent investigation, sends prayers"
Why we used this label
The case asks whether DHS should lead the investigation of the shooting. Talarico said previous incidents have shown that "this agency" cannot be trusted to report all the facts, and that the shooting needs a full, independent investigation with any available footage released. That calls for an investigation independent of the agency involved, so we labeled it Condemned.
Role at the time: Texas state representative and Democratic Senate candidate posting on his own account
Condemned
Statement summary
Talarico thanked Cornyn, called the post blatant racism, and challenged Paxton to say whether he would condemn it.
“Thank you @JohnCornyn for your leadership.
Racism has no place in Texas.
@KenPaxtonTX: will you condemn this blatant racism or will you cower to extremists?”
The conduct under scrutiny is French's UT fan post. Talarico names it blatant racism, condemning it directly, and presses an opponent to take a position.
Role at the time: 2026 Texas U.S. Senate candidate
Condemned
Statement summary
James Talarico said Flock cameras should not operate in Texas, citing their ability to reconstruct a person's movements.
“Flock cameras have no place in Texas.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)James Talarico Bluesky statement on Flock camerasPost beginning Flock cameras have no place in Texas; corroborated by AP reporting
Why we used this label
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Talarico said Flock cameras have no place in Texas, citing their ability to reconstruct a person's movements. Saying the cameras should not operate in the state is a call to end the network, so Condemned fits.
Role at the time: Texas state representative and Democratic U.S. Senate nominee
Condemned
Statement summary
James Talarico said powerful officials wanted to make voting more difficult as he urged Tarrant County to reject the polling-site reductions.
“The most powerful people in this county, the most powerful people in this country, don't want us to be able vote easily.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Plan to cut number of polling sites in a major Texas county draws protests as Senate race looms · Associated PressParagraphs quoting James Talarico after the description of the proposed cuts, and Matt Shaheen after the statewide context
Why we used this label
Talarico attributes the proposed reductions to an intent to make voting harder. Because the case asks whether the cuts were intended to skew the election, that condemns the plan as an effort to restrict access.
Role at the time: Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Talarico credits Crockett's endorsement and down-ballot campaign work, says he is responsible for winning the Senate race, and leaves her an open invitation to campaign with him.
“Winning this campaign is my job as the Democratic nominee, and we're grateful for the Congresswoman's support.”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)James Talarico discusses Jasmine Crockett's down-ballot work with theGrioTalarico's answers on Crockett's endorsement, down-ballot work, and an invitation to campaign with him.
Why we used this label
Talarico says Crockett has already helped through her down-ballot work and does not owe his campaign a joint appearance.
Ken Paxton demands proof of life after James Talarico's absence from in-person campaign events. Talarico's campaign points to his flu diagnosis, earlier public appearances and a planned return.
An ICE officer shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan DoorDash driver, in Austin on September 20. He says he was trying to pull over; prosecutors, who charged him with assaulting an officer, say he drove off. The dispute is whether the shooting was justified.
DHS says it will lead the investigation of an ICE officer's shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin. Read its statement, calls for an independent inquiry and the subsequent charge.
Bo French used an image of apparent South Asian UT fans to argue that foreigners were displacing Americans. Critics called the posts racist or xenophobic; French and supporters said they raised a legitimate immigration and admissions dispute.
Vance twice suggested that James Talarico's internet search history would be disturbing and joked about Talarico's sexuality at a Tyler rally. Asked by reporters, he said he was just guessing. Jake Tapper and Joe Scarborough criticized the remarks.
Networked automated license-plate cameras can assemble searchable records of vehicle movements. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to ban the systems, keep them with limits, or defend them as investigative tools. This tracker separates outright bans from narrower restrictions.
Tarrant County approved 92 fewer Election Day polling sites for 2026 than in 2022. Compare Richardson's election-rigging accusation with Wren's account of the county's rationale and countywide vote-center rules.
Democratic posts quote Paxton saying God has a plan after Uvalde. He said those words, but also called the tragedy senseless in the longer answer. Did the short clip change their meaning?
Crockett endorsed Talarico after their primary but says she will campaign for down-ballot Democrats. Khanna wants her on Talarico's trail; Talarico says her work already helps. Should she join his campaign?
An issue tracker recording where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the unauthorized Iran war, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements, and public remarks.
James Talarico says he capped Texas insulin costs at $25 a month. Lois Kolkhorst says she authored the 2021 law. Records document Talarico’s earlier bill and House sponsorship, making this a dispute over legislative credit.
