James Talarico
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Born in the heart of Texas, James Dell Talarico emerged onto the political scene with a powerful blend of public service and unwavering conviction. A former public school teacher and a dedicated Presbyterian seminarian, Talarico has been a steadfast voice in the Texas House of Representatives since 2018, representing House District 50.
Recognized as a "rising star" among Texas Democrats, Talarico's commitment to education is evident in his service on the Public Education Committee. He also lends his expertise to the Calendars Committee and the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee.
But Talarico's vision extends beyond the state capitol. In September 2025, he announced his candidacy for the 2026 US Senate race in Texas, signaling a bold step forward in his public service journey.
His roots run deep in Texas soil. Born in Round Rock, Talarico was raised by his single mother, Tamara Causey, and later adopted by Mark Talarico. His formative years were spent in Round Rock ISD schools, graduating from McNeil High School. The wisdom of his grandfather, a Baptist preacher, continues to shape him, instilling the belief that Christianity is a simple, yet profound, call to "love God and love your neighbor."
Talarico's academic pursuits reflect his dedication to public service. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in government from the University of Texas at Austin, where he championed tuition relief for students. His academic excellence was further recognized as a member of the Friar Society, the University of Texas's oldest honor society. He then honed his understanding of education policy with a Master of Education from Harvard University. In August 2022, while serving in the Texas House, Talarico began pursuing a Master of Divinity at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, deepening his spiritual and intellectual foundation.
His career began with a passion for teaching. In 2011, Talarico joined Teach For America, inspiring sixth-grade English language arts students at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio. Following his impactful teaching tenure, he led Reasoning Mind, a Texas nonprofit dedicated to bringing innovative technology to under-resourced classrooms.
In 2018, at the age of 28, Talarico launched his campaign for the Texas House, capturing media attention by walking the entire length of his district. He was sworn into office on November 20, 2018, quickly becoming the youngest member of the Texas Legislature. His first term saw him champion the Whole Student Agenda, a comprehensive package of bills aimed at improving public education. As a member of the Public Education Committee, he played a crucial role in drafting House Bill 3, a landmark bill that allocated $11.6 billion for school finance and property tax reform.
His dedication to public service was not without its challenges. A leaked recording revealed an attempt by a powerful figure to recruit a challenger against him, a testament to the impact of his early work.
In 2020, Talarico secured reelection, demonstrating his continued connection with his constituents. He was reappointed to the Public Education and Juvenile Justice Committees and added to the Calendars Committee for the 87th Legislative Session. During this session, he championed Javier Ambler's Law, a critical piece of legislation aimed at ending police contracts with reality television shows, spurred by the tragic death of Javier Ambler.
Talarico's personal health journey also fueled his advocacy. After a grueling campaign event where he walked 25 miles, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The staggering cost of insulin in America ignited a fierce determination within him, leading him to champion a bill that capped insulin prices at $25 per month. His commitment to his constituents and his impactful legislative work earned him recognition as one of Texas Monthly's Top 10 Best Legislators.
In 2022, Talarico navigated a redistricting process by running in the neighboring, safely Democratic House District 50, securing a decisive victory in both the primary and general elections. During the 88th legislative session, he advocated for House Bill 25, which aimed to lower prescription drug costs by allowing Texas to import medications from Canada. He also stood firm against SB 1515, a bill that sought to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, citing constitutional grounds of separation of church and state.
His commitment to his principles remained unwavering. In 2024, Talarico was unopposed in the general election after winning the Democratic primary.
The year 2025 saw Talarico continue his advocacy against the placement of the Ten Commandments in Texas public schools. His impassioned remarks gained national attention, leading to an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. On September 9, 2025, he announced his historic candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
Talarico's personal life is deeply intertwined with his faith. A devout Christian, he is actively involved in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin. He is a vocal critic of Christian nationalism, a movement he describes as "a cancer on our religion" and an ideology that "has nothing Christian about it." He firmly believes his faith, particularly the commandment to love God and neighbor, is the driving force behind his political career, viewing politics as "another word for how we treat our neighbors." Talarico has powerfully articulated that Christian nationalism is "the worship of power—social power, economic power, political power, in the name of Christ," accusing its proponents of distorting Jesus into a figure far removed from his teachings. He has called upon all Christians to confront and denounce this ideology, a message that resonated widely, garnering over a million views on a 2023 guest sermon. In July 2025, his conversation with Joe Rogan further illuminated the profound influence of faith on his political journey.
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James Dell Talarico (born May 17, 1989) is an American politician, Presbyterian seminarian, and former public school teacher serving in the Texas House of Representatives since 2018. He is a member of the Democratic Party and has been called a "rising star" among Texas Democrats.
Representing Texas House District 50, Talarico serves on the Texas House's Public Education Committee, Calendars Committee, and Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee.
In September 2025, Talarico announced his candidacy for the 2026 US Senate race in Texas.
== Early life and education ==
Talarico was born at a Round Rock Hospital in Williamson County, Texas, to Tamara Causey, a single mother. He was later adopted by Mark Talarico and has a younger sister. He attended Round Rock ISD schools and graduated from McNeil High School in Williamson County.
His grandfather was a Baptist preacher in South Texas who he says taught him that Christianity "is a simple—though not easy—religion, rooted in two commandments: 'love God and love your neighbor.'"
Talarico earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin, where he organized students for tuition relief. He was a member of the Friar Society, the University of Texas's oldest honor society. He later earned a Master of Education degree in education policy from Harvard University.
In August 2022, while a member of the Texas House of Representatives, Talarico began pursuing a Master of Divinity at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
== Career ==
In 2011, Talarico joined Teach For America, teaching sixth-grade English language arts at Rhodes Middle School on the west side of San Antonio. After two years of teaching, he became the Central Texas executive director for Reasoning Mind, a Texas nonprofit focusing on bringing technology to low-income classrooms.
== Texas House of Representatives ==
=== 2018 ===
Talarico launched his campaign for the Texas House shortly after incumbent state legislator Larry Gonzales chose not to run for reelection. At age 28, Talarico won both the special and general elections against Republican nominee Cynthia Flores, garnering media attention for walking the full length of the district.
Talarico was sworn into the Texas House of Representatives on November 20, 2018. He was appointed to the Public Education and Juvenile Justice Committees. As of 2019, he was the Texas Legislature's youngest member.
In the 86th Texas Legislature, Talarico filed the Whole Student Agenda, a legislative package with bills addressing public education policy. As a member of the Public Education Committee, he helped draft House Bill 3, which contained $11.6 billion in funds for school finance and property tax reform.
During Talarico's first term, a recording of Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen was leaked by Michael Quinn Sullivan of the conservative advocacy group Empower Texans. In it, Bonnen claimed he had recruited a challenger for "that Talarico kid".
=== 2020 ===
Talarico was reelected, defeating former Hutto City Councilmember Lucio Valdez with 51.5% of the vote. For the 87th Legislative Session, he was reappointed to the Public Education and Juvenile Justice Committees and appointed to the Calendars Committee.
During the 87th legislative session, he filed Javier Ambler's Law, demanding an end to police contracts with reality TV shows, in response to the role Live PD is alleged to have played in the killing of Javier Ambler by Williamson County, Texas police. Talarico had previously criticized Sheriff Robert Chody's handling of the incident, calling for his resignation.
Talarico was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during a five-day stint in the ICU after a 2018 campaign event where he walked 25 miles across his district. After his diagnosis, he discovered that insulin can cost Americans around $700 per month. He supported the passage of a bill that caps insulin prices at $25 per month.
At the end of the legislative session, Texas Monthly magazine named Talarico one of the Top 10 Best Legislators.
=== 2022 ===
After his district was made significantly more Republican during the 2020 redistricting process, Talarico announced that he would run in the neighboring House District 50, a safe Democratic seat being vacated by Celia Israel. His previous district was a swing district.
He won the primary election with 78.5% of the vote and the general election with 76.8% of the vote.
During the 88th legislative session, Talarico supported House Bill 25, which would create the Texas Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program and allow Texas to import lower-cost Canadian medications that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Talarico was an outspoken critic of SB 1515, which sought to have the Ten Commandments displayed in a "conspicuous place" in elementary and secondary classrooms, on the constitutional grounds of separation of church and state. The bill was declared dead in May 2023.
=== 2024 ===
Talarico defeated Nathan Boynton in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.
=== 2025 ===
In 2025, Talarico argued against a bill that would place the Ten Commandments in Texas public schools. Videos of his remarks led to an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. On September 9, 2025, he announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
== Electoral history ==
== Personal life ==
Talarico is a "deeply religious" Christian and was raised Presbyterian. He is active in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin.
Talarico is an outspoken critic of Christian nationalism, calling it "a cancer on our religion", and has often said "There's nothing Christian about Christian nationalism". He has cited his faith and the teachings of Jesus, especially the commandment to love one's God and neighbor, as the reason for launching his political career. He has called politics "another word for how we treat our neighbors". Talarico has called Christian nationalism "the worship of power—social power, economic power, political power, in the name of Christ" and has accused Christian nationalists of turning Jesus "into a gun-toting, gay-bashing, science-denying, money-loving, fear-mongering fascist", arguing that it is "incumbent on all Christians to confront it and denounce it" in a 2023 guest sermon that racked up more than 1 million views on YouTube. In July 2025, Talarico appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience and discussed the influence of faith on his political career.
== Notes ==
== References ==
== External links ==
James Talarico – Texas House website
JamesTalarico.com – US Senate Campaign website
Appearances on C-SPAN
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