Republican party officials launched a series of cultural attacks against Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico before final results were even tallied in last week’s GOP primary in Texas.
Texas congressman Brandon Gill posted on X on May 22 that Talarico “wants to trans your kids.” Several days afterward, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller incorrectly stated that Talarico was “transgender.” Online attack advertisements featured past controversial statements from the state representative and seminarian, labeling him a “woke weirdo.”
As Republicans find themselves struggling with high gas prices and an unpopular war in Iran, they’re shifting to more familiar ideological ground before November’s midterm elections – focusing on gender identity and other divisive cultural topics in a contest that could decide whether they maintain control of the U.S. Congress.
Several attacks target Talarico specifically, the 37-year-old rising Democratic figure who regularly discusses how his progressive views stem from his Christian beliefs. Other criticisms are designed for Texas, which last elected a Democratic senator in 1988.
Political experts say this approach reflects a broader Republican strategy that helped the party achieve nationwide victories in the 2024 election cycle, and which they hope will help them overcome challenges across the nation in 2026.
The implications are significant: Democrats have a narrow and challenging route to regaining Senate control, but a Texas victory would likely provide them with a genuine opportunity. Democratic strategists consider the Republican nominee, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, an unusually vulnerable candidate burdened by corruption scandals and marital problems.
A Friday poll from Texas Public Opinion Research revealed both candidates in a close competition, with Talarico ahead of Paxton 47% to 44% among likely voters.
Political analysts describe Talarico’s campaign as an early examination for Democrats on handling a familiar challenge: addressing culturally inflammatory attacks without being characterized by them or alienating important voter groups.
“Republicans need to mobilize voters,” said Daron Shaw, a professor of politics at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the bipartisan Fox News polling team. “Painting Talarico as just unacceptable to Texas voters,” isn’t simply a play for the base, he said, but will be “targeted at non-MAGA Republicans and independents.”
Thus far, Talarico has focused on economic matters and criticized Republicans for attempting to revisit “old, tired culture war fights.” He admitted in a CBS interview that certain previous comments “missed the mark,” including a 2021 remark that “God is nonbinary.” However, his campaign has also embraced the criticism, offering “I’m a Talafreako” T-shirts to supporters.
“This is how puppet politicians like Ken Paxton stay in power,” Talarico told Reuters, when asked about the attacks at a campaign stop in San Antonio on Friday. “They divide us by party, by race, by gender, by religion, by culture … And I think Texans are done being divided.”
The Paxton campaign did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Samantha Cantrell, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the party’s Senate campaign arm, said it was important for Texans to know Talarico’s position on issues.
“Saying that God is non-binary is a very, very radical leftist viewpoint,” she said.
Yemisi Egbewole, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to President Joe Biden, praised Talarico for his direct approach to countering the attacks.
“He just addressed straight to camera across multiple outlets that his comments were cringe, and characterized himself as being a bit provocative,” she said. “I think you’ve just got to knock it out of the way, right away.”
Other Democratic candidates should take note, Egbewole and other strategists said, as Republicans seek to shift the conversation away from pocketbook issues. Polls show a clear majority of Americans are dissatisfied with President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, usually an area of strength for him and his party.
The cultural traditionalism message particularly resonates in Texas, a deeply religious state and birthplace of the U.S. conservative movement. “James Talarico is a threat to our values, our way of life, and the future of Texas,” Paxton posted on X on Saturday.
“This is a fight about: Is Talarico a nontraditional Democrat who would be acceptable to God-fearing people in East Texas?” Shaw said. “Or is he the kind of left-wing, progressive, mask-wearing, vegan wannabe who appeals to Austin intellectuals?”
One recurring Republican criticism – including from Paxton and Trump – has been incorrectly claiming Talarico follows a vegan diet, attempting to portray him as un-Texan. Talarico has responded by saying he has been eating barbecue since before Paxton’s first indictment.
Using cultural issues, particularly transgender rights debates, proved successful for Republicans in 2024. One of the most impactful attack advertisements featured the phrase: “Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you,” highlighting Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’s comments supporting tax-funded gender-affirming care for prisoners.
“Those are frankly the things that stick the most with voters,” said Egbewole, saying Democrats need to do a better job of communicating their own values to ordinary voters. “They just want to know: What do you stand for?”
