Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico is facing renewed scrutiny after resurfaced comments in which he praised Texas drag queens as “some of the best in the nation.” The remarks, made in May 2023 during a debate over a state bill restricting sexually oriented performances on public property, have become a flashpoint in the closely watched Texas Senate race. Talarico, a 37-year-old state legislator and seminarian, argued at the time that the legislation unfairly targeted drag performers and could harm a thriving local industry.
“I think Texas is obviously the best state in the nation and I think we produce some of the best drag queens in the nation,” Talarico told The Texas Newsroom in the resurfaced interview. “And I didn’t want any legislation to target them or hurt that industry.” The comments came as the Texas House debated Senate Bill 12, a measure that would ban sexually oriented performances on public property or in the presence of minors. Talarico voted “present” on the bill after language explicitly referencing drag performers was removed, a move he said was made at the urging of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus to better protect such shows.
The bill, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in June 2023, has faced ongoing legal challenges from LGBTQ organizations arguing it violates First Amendment rights. Under the law, businesses can be fined up to $10,000 for hosting prohibited performances, and drag performers could face criminal penalties. In February 2025, a federal appeals court allowed the law to take effect while a constitutional challenge continues. Attorney General Ken Paxton, Talarico’s Republican opponent in the Senate race, has defended the law, stating, “I will always work to shield our children from exposure to erotic and inappropriate sexually-oriented performances.”
Talarico’s past remarks have repeatedly stirred controversy. In addition to his comments on drag queens, he has argued that “God is nonbinary,” claimed there are six biological sexes, and expressed support for transgender children. In a 2022 clip, he also called scaling back meat consumption “existential” to combating climate change and praised a left-wing activist group advocating for dismantling Texas’s oil and gas industry. These statements have drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, who see them as evidence of an extreme agenda out of step with Texas voters.
“This is just one more addition to the long list of out-of-touch, extreme views James Talarico holds that are out of step with the people of Texas,” said Madison Cercy, a spokeswoman for Paxton’s campaign. The Republican National Committee (RNC) also weighed in, with spokesman Zach Kraft saying, “He needs to stay away from kids and stop forcing his creepy trans-for-all agenda on Texas.” The RNC is working aggressively to keep the Senate seat currently held by retiring Senator John Cornyn in Republican hands.
The controversy comes as Talarico and Paxton are locked in a dead heat just months ahead of the November midterm elections. A recent New York Times/Siena College survey found both candidates tied at 47% among likely voters in Texas. The poll also revealed that while about half of respondents view Paxton as too extreme, only 43% said the same of Talarico. However, Talarico may struggle with the Democratic Party’s brand in the state, as 53% of respondents view the party as too far to the left. Additionally, fewer than four in ten respondents believe Paxton has good character or the right morals, compared to 56% and 51% who said the same of Talarico on those measures.
The race is seen as a bellwether for Texas’s shifting political landscape. Talarico, a former middle school teacher, has positioned himself as a progressive challenger in a state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in decades. His campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the resurfaced remarks. As the election approaches, both candidates are expected to intensify their efforts to sway undecided voters, with Talarico’s past statements likely to remain a central issue in the campaign.