A resurfaced video from September 2020 shows Texas state Representative and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico describing the chance to end what he called 'over-policing of communities of color' as a 'really exciting' opportunity. The footage, which emerged from a Zoom call with the South Asian American Voter Empowerment group, has reignited debate over Talarico’s stance on law enforcement as he runs for a U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Ken Paxton.
In the video, Talarico said policymakers needed to 'listen to black voices and to the activists in the streets calling for a radically different vision of public safety.' He criticized Republicans for what he described as wanting to 'scare white people to win an election' and argued that police violence against communities of color 'has its roots in slavery and Jim Crow and mass incarceration.' Talarico added that the country was facing a moment to 'make some fundamental changes' to the criminal justice system and expressed excitement about reinvesting public funding into 'community-based solutions.'
He specifically praised the city of Austin for approving a budget that cut tens of millions of dollars from its police department and criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott for threatening to penalize cities that reduce police funding. 'To see the governor continue to try to undermine our local governments, I think is rich to say the least,' Talarico said at the time.
Talarico is currently locked in a tight race against Paxton, with recent polling showing the two tied. A win for Talarico would be a major upset in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in decades. Despite the video's content, Talarico’s campaign has sought to paint him as a moderate, pro-police candidate. In response to the resurfaced footage, campaign spokesperson JT Ennis told Fox News Digital that 'James opposes defunding the police, has voted to deny bail for violent criminals, and has a record of sending billions of dollars to support law enforcement.' Ennis also noted Talarico’s support for border security and an agenda backed by law enforcement officials from both parties.
But critics argue the video contradicts Talarico’s current messaging. Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, called Talarico a 'dangerous freak who is willing to endanger the entire state just to prove that he is sufficiently woke.' Kraft alleged that Talarico’s vision would mean 'no police, no prisons, and no borders' and would 'put families in danger and be a paradise for criminal illegal aliens.'
Madison Cercy, a spokesperson for Paxton’s campaign, said Talarico has 'the most consistently anti-law enforcement record in the Texas Legislature' and accused his campaign of lying about his record. She pointed to Talarico’s past statements and votes on criminal justice issues as evidence that he is not the moderate he claims to be.
Talarico’s campaign has previously dismissed such criticisms as 'flat out lies' and pointed to legislation he introduced that would add mental health officials to police responses as a way to prevent tragedies like the Uvalde school shooting. The campaign has also highlighted Talarico’s votes to deny bail to violent offenders as proof of his support for public safety.
The controversy comes as Talarico tries to navigate a difficult political landscape in Texas, where Republicans have controlled statewide offices for decades. The Senate race is being watched nationally as a potential pickup for Democrats, and both parties are investing heavily in the contest. The resurfaced video gives Paxton and his allies new ammunition to question Talarico’s credibility with moderate and conservative voters who prioritize law and order.
The 2020 Zoom call took place during a period of widespread protests following the death of George Floyd, when calls to defund police departments gained traction in many Democratic-led cities. Talarico’s remarks at the time reflected that national mood. Now, as a Senate candidate in a general election, he faces the challenge of reconciling those earlier positions with a campaign message that emphasizes support for police and border security.
Whether the video will significantly affect the race remains to be seen. Paxton, who has been Texas attorney general since 2015, faces his own controversies, including an impeachment trial earlier this year over allegations of bribery and abuse of office. He has denied any wrongdoing. The race between Talarico and Paxton is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country.
