The James Talarico campaign says the Democratic Senate nominee in Texas is a “proud capitalist,” even though he once described capitalism as an “oppressive system” that needed to be dismantled — and predicted that Texas’ fossil fuel industry was “not gonna last.”
The remarks, made during a resurfaced 2020 Zoom call with Sierra Club activists, are drawing fresh scrutiny as Talarico faces Republican nominee and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a Senate race that could help determine control of the chamber.
The comments were first reported by CNN early Tuesday and were seized on by Lone Star Liberty PAC, an outside political group aligned with Paxton, and Senate Leadership Fund, a leading super PAC backing Senate Republicans.
THESE 12 MIDTERM RACES WILL DECIDE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE SENATE
On the call, Talarico is heard saying that the U.S. was facing a “multi-faceted threat” of a climate, economic and social crisis.
After an activist asked how to address the harm suffered by communities of color by climate change, Talarico responded, “I’m so thankful that you asked this question and also thankful that young activists have really drawn the link between climate change and White supremacy and capitalism in our country.”
“I think only understanding the ways that all three of those oppressive systems work together are we going to be able to begin the process of dismantling them.”
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB
Talarico, during the same forum, forecast that Texas’ fossil fuel industry wouldn’t last.
“We all know that Texas has been a leader in oil and gas, but in many ways that’s like being the leader in cassette tapes in the 1980s. That industry is not gonna last,” Talarico said.
Asked for comment, Talarico campaign spokesperson J.T. Ennis told Fox News Digital, “James is a proud capitalist and agrees with the majority of Texans that racism, natural disasters, and a billionaire-controlled economy are all problems we need to address.”
“James has already said he missed the mark on some of his past statements, while Ken Paxton has refused to address his comments that the school shooting in Uvalde was ‘God’s plan’ and that Texas’ abortion ban is good for interstate commerce,” Ennis added.
The Talarico campaign also spotlighted that the state lawmaker had “taken many votes” in support of the oil industry. And the campaign website states that he aims to make sure that Texas “not only maintains, but extends” its energy dominance.
WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE MIDTERM RACES SHOW
The Paxton campaign and Republicans have repeatedly targeted Talarico for past comments he’s made on social issues, including his prior suggestion that “God is nonbinary,” that he “hates Christianity,” and that “there are many more than two biological sexes; in fact, there are six.“
Talarico, a 37-year-old former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, defeated progressive firebrand and vocal critic of President Donald Trump Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the March Democratic Senate primary.
SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER
Paxton, a longtime Trump ally, captured the GOP nomination in late May, after defeating longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn in a primary runoff election. The combustible clash between the two Texas titans shaped up as a fight between the Republican establishment and Trump’s MAGA and America First supporters. Trump stayed neutral in the intra-party battle until giving Paxton an 11th-hour endorsement.
The general election face-off in deep-red Texas between Talarico and Paxton is one of roughly a dozen races that will likely decide if Republicans hold the Senate majority or if Democrats win back control of the chamber.
Democrats haven’t won a Senate election in Texas in nearly four decades, but they view Paxton as vulnerable because of the slew of scandals and legal problems that have battered him over the past decade. And Paxton is dealing with a messy divorce, with his wife citing “biblical grounds” based on “recent discoveries” in filing last year to end their marriage.
Talarico enjoys a large fundraising advantage over Paxton.
Meanwhile, the most recent Fox News poll in the Texas Senate showdown, conducted in late July, indicated Talarico holding a slight 51%-48% edge over Paxton among registered voters.
The survey suggested that Paxton had yet to fully unite Republicans. While virtually all Democrats supported Talarico (98%), slightly fewer Republicans were unified behind Paxton (89%).
Meanwhile, the most recent Fox News Power Rankings, released last month, shifted the Senate race in Texas from Lean Republican to toss-up.
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-09-02 13:16:49
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
