‘Today we face a new threat:’ James Talarico’s message for Texas Democrats
State Rep. James Talarico offered his vision of a friendlier Texas as he spoke to Democrats at the party’s state convention Friday in Corpus Christi.
The Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, in the November general election. A recent poll from the Texas Politics Project predicts it could be a tight race for the seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn. The longtime incumbent lost a May runoff against Paxton.
When his time came to address members of the party from the event’s main stage Friday night, Talarico delivered a love letter to Texas intermixed with a firm rebuke of billionaires and his GOP opponent.
Talarico’s mother taught him Texas is beautiful, bold and big, he said: “Big hair, big hearts and big dreams.”
“But the current political landscape is too small for Texas,” Talarico said. “The politics of this state is narrow-minded and shortsighted.”
Texas, where “friendship” is the state motto, used to be known for its hospitality, he said.
“Today we face a new threat,” Talarico said. “Our state is being taken over by a new kind of tyrant — billionaire megadonors. … They are turning neighbor against neighbor, weakening that spirit of friendship that makes Texas so great.”
He cast Paxton as a “corrupt” puppet for billionaires who are “shrinking” the economy, public schools, healthcare coverage and paychecks.
“They have been shrinking Texas for three decades now, but that ends this year in this election,” Talarico said. “In November, we can make Texas big again. We can make Texas friendly again. We can make Texas Texas again.”
Convention speakers include Texas statewide candidates such as Talarico and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, as well as prominent national figures such as Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who spoke Friday, and Sen. Bernie Sanders. The Vermont independent and two-time presidential candidate is Saturday’s keynote speaker.
The gathering started June 25 and runs through June 27.
Throughout Friday night’s speeches, there were efforts to focus on issues such as affordability and education, and move beyond party lines. Among the speakers was Hawk Dunlap, who ran for Texas railroad commissioner as a Republican but has endorsed State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, a Democrat, for the statewide seat overseeing the oil and gas industry.
“What we’re hearing everywhere is Texans have had it with the culture wars,” said state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, the Democratic nominee for Texas comptroller. “We don’t want to be told what to think or where to pee or how to pray. We want homes that we can afford, full of warmth and food and family. We want to live in thriving communities with good public schools.”
Hinojosa blasted Gov. Greg Abbott while also critiquing her own party and focusing on the “American dream.”
“Somewhere along the way, we left the kitchen table behind,” Hinojosa said.
Hinojosa said her agenda is saving Texas schools and putting “money in your pocket.”
“That is the work,” she said. “Anything else takes our eye off the prize, and the prize is too precious to put off any longer.”
The Democratic convention comes two weeks after state Republicans gathered in Houston, an event that featured statewide candidates urging party unity after a bruising primary season.
Abbott’s camp made its presence known in Corpus Christi as Democrats met Friday, with the help of a bovine and by handing out breakfast tacos. The taco options included one called “Democrat Promises” (an empty tortilla).
The Texas breakfast staple has been the subject of campaign fodder after Talarico ordered a potato, egg and cheese taco when he visited an Austin restaurant with former President Barack Obama and Hinojosa in May.
“Homie is not beating the vegetarian allegations,” Abbott’s campaign account on X quipped at the time. (Talarico does eat meat.)
Abbott’s campaign also launched a website that seeks to show “the major disconnect between Democratic policies and everyday Texans,” according to a Thursday news release.
“No amount of rebranding can hide the fact that Democrats have embraced a radical, socialist agenda that is dangerous for Texas,” Abbott campaign manager Kim Snyder said in a Thursday news release.
Ahead of Talarico’s speech Friday, Paxton’s campaign disputed the idea that the Democratic state lawmaker is a “tax-cutting moderate.” The campaign issued a list of questions about Talarico’s record on tax-related legislation, saying Texans deserve answers from Talarico.
Talarico’s first major ad of the general election — a “multimillion-dollar” spot that will air in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Harlingen-McAllen areas, per Talarico’s campaign — highlights the cost of groceries, gas and healthcare.
“In the Senate, I’ll take on corruption and keep fighting to lower your costs,” Talarico says in the 30-second spot.
Paxton’s campaign didn’t immediately return a request for comment Friday night.
This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 11:14 PM.
