State Rep. James Talarico (D-District 50) faces scrutiny over abortion, “transgender” issues and religious claims before early voting begins October 19, while President Donald Trump (R) calls the Democratic Senate nominee “TalaFREAKO.”
During Wednesday’s CNN and Jubilee Media town hall in Fort Worth, Talarico falsely described Texas’ abortion ban as covering every case, “including when the life of the mother is in danger.”
What Texas law allows
Texas law allows a licensed physician to perform an abortion when, in the doctor’s reasonable medical judgment, a pregnancy-related, life-threatening physical condition puts a woman at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.
The statute expressly allows doctors to act before the risk becomes imminent and before the woman suffers physical impairment or other damage.
The law also says physicians are not required to delay, alter or withhold treatment if doing so would create a greater risk of the woman’s death or substantial impairment of a major bodily function.
The trigger law already included a medical exception, The Dallas Express reported July 28, 2022.
His argument about delayed care
Talarico also said women were dying from sepsis in emergency room parking lots because doctors feared providing lifesaving care. That claim concerns how the ban affects medical decisions; the existence of an exception does not, by itself, resolve it.
His campaign platform calls for federal legislation to codify Roe v. Wade and protect contraception and IVF.
Talarico’s pro-abortion preaching
Talarico told CNN that “the Bible is silent on the issue of abortion.” He has previously cited Mary’s pregnancy to defend his pro-abortion position, as DX reported.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, his Austin congregation, listed Planned Parenthood Greater Texas among the organizations supported through its annual budget, according to a June DX report.
His “trans” statements and legislative record
In a 2022 sermon at St. Andrew’s, Talarico said, “Our trans community needs abortion care too,” as DX previously documented.
James Talarico: “Our trans community needs abortion care too.”
Can you believe this guy even has a chance in Texas? https://t.co/o26qBY6btB
— Jack (@jackunheard) October 17, 2026
Talarico called his “God is nonbinary” wording “provocative” on CNN but continued defending the argument that human categories cannot define God. He originally used the phrase in a 2021 speech opposing school sports restrictions based on biological sex.
God is spirit, but Christians should retain Scripture’s language of Father and Son, Pastor Adriel Sanchez argues in an explanation cited in DX’s earlier reporting.
Talarico also defended his opposition to broader restrictions on children’s treatments on CNN while maintaining that he had not supported sex-mutilation surgeries for minors.
He voted against Senate Bill 14 on May 15, 2023. The measure prohibited sex-mutilation surgeries, elective “transgender” hormone usage and hormone inhibitors for minors seeking to change their biological sex.
Explaining his opposition at an August 7, 2023, Pflugerville Pride panel, Talarico said, “I trust parents and doctors to make decisions for kids, and not politicians in Austin,” PolitiFact reported.
In undercover footage from a Houston church, Talarico said, “My position hasn’t changed,” during an exchange about “transgender” participation in women’s sports, DX reported October 8.
North Texas pastors challenge his theology
First Baptist Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress said Talarico “is not a Christian” in a September 30 conversation with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-Texas) on the Lt. Dan podcast, Baptist News Global reported.
Talarico uses theology to mislead Christians, Lakepointe Church Senior Pastor Josh Howerton said in an October 7 episode of Live Free with Josh Howerton responding to the candidate’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.
Howerton called Talarico a “master deceiver,” saying he takes familiar Christian phrases and fills them with meanings listeners may reject.
“What he does is he selectively edits Jesus until Jesus becomes a mascot for his cause,” Howerton said.
Howerton rejected Talarico’s “nonbinary” description of God and pointed to Jesus’ teachings on marriage and the creation of humanity as male and female.
He described Talarico’s use of biblical arguments for his own political agenda as “Christian nationalism for me, but not for thee.”
Howerton warned that Christians failing to fulfill their biblical responsibilities could leave a “biblically defined heretic and demonic false teacher” leading Texas. He urged listeners to vote.
Trump renews his Paxton endorsement
President Donald Trump separately called Talarico “TalaFREAKO” in a Saturday post on X and renewed his endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), the Republican Senate nominee.
James TalaFREAKO is a Radical Left Lunatic and Vegan who is the ANTITHESIS of Texas Values. Ken Paxton is the Greatest Attorney General in the History of Texas, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next U.S. Senator from Texas — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! President DONALD J. TRUMP
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2026
Trump described Talarico as the “ANTITHESIS of Texas Values” and gave Paxton his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Early voting in the November 3 election begins October 19 and runs through October 30.
