Dem Senate Hopeful Calls for ‘Politics of Love’—But Has History of Accusing GOP of ‘Radicalized White Terrorism’

Texas state Rep. James Talarico is running for U.S. Senate on a message of civility and “healing politics”—but his record suggests a very different tone just a few years ago.

Talarico, a Democrat who recently entered the race to replace Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is competing against fellow Democrat Colin Allred in the primary. In the wake of conservative leader Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Talarico issued a call for “love” over hate and denounced political violence. But critics are calling out what they see as hypocrisy, pointing to Talarico’s incendiary past statements accusing White men of being the nation’s “greatest domestic terrorist threat.”

“I Am Tired of Being Told to Hate My Neighbor”

Following news of Kirk’s murder, Talarico took a notably different tone than many of his progressive colleagues. While several House Democrats refused to honor Kirk at all, Talarico said, “People across the political spectrum in this state and in this country are hungry for a different kind of politics — not a politics of fear, not a politics of hate, not a politics of violence, but a politics of love.”

He even pointed to their shared Christian faith as a basis for finding common ground.

Past Rhetoric Tells a Different Story

But Republicans say Talarico’s words ring hollow in light of his inflammatory social media history.

In 2021, Talarico declared:

“Radicalized White men are the greatest domestic terrorist threat in our country.”

That tweet came after the Atlanta spa shootings and lumped together several high-profile crimes involving White suspects. Talarico then added:

“As a White man, I’m susceptible to the same radicalization,”
and pledged to push DEI legislation in response.

Talarico also called Senator Ted Cruz a “traitor” in the immediate aftermath of January 6, and mocked Texas Governor Greg Abbott as a “White supremacist troll” for supporting Kyle Rittenhouse’s not guilty verdict.

NRSC: Talarico Is ‘Too Extreme for Texas’

The National Republican Senatorial Committee blasted Talarico’s record as inconsistent with his newly rebranded image.

“James Talarico has falsely accused Republicans of trying to create an ‘authoritarian, Christian Nationalist state’ and a ‘Christofascist theocracy,’” said NRSC spokeswoman Joanna Rodriguez. “He is one of many far-left extremists who will vilify Republicans at any cost to score points with the woke mob.”

Team Talarico Responds: We’re Fighting the ‘For-Profit Rage Economy’

A spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign defended the Democrat’s record, arguing that he’s always tried to combat the radicalization of young men online.

“For years, James has called out the billionaire-run algorithms that often radicalize young men in dark corners of the internet,” said campaign spokesperson JT Ennis. “James feels a responsibility to speak out against this for-profit rage economy — and that’s what he did again after Charlie Kirk’s tragic death.”

Ennis insisted that Talarico is simply a leader who “fights for his principles” while being willing to work across the aisle.

Bottom Line

While James Talarico is preaching a “politics of love” on the campaign trail, his critics say he has yet to own up to years of incendiary rhetoric that demonized political opponents and entire demographic groups. In a deeply red state like Texas, voters will soon decide whether his political makeover is genuine — or just another election-year facade.