Texas Democrat Senate Nominee Talarico Pushed Far-Left Agenda in Classrooms

Talarico bragged about teaching 'liberal propaganda' on issues like global warming and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico has a history of pushing his liberal agenda on students, including bragging about teaching 'liberal propaganda' on topics like global warming and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Talarico, a former public school teacher, has also opposed restrictions on child sex-change operations and co-authored legislation to mandate DEI lessons in schools.

Why it matters

Talarico's actions as a teacher and state legislator raise concerns about his priorities and whether he would continue to push his far-left agenda if elected to the U.S. Senate. His history of promoting controversial and divisive issues in the classroom could be seen as an abuse of his position of authority over students.

The details

In 2012, Talarico posted on Twitter that he had spent '10 minutes today to teach my kids about global warming' and that it 'definitely freaked them out.' As a state representative, Talarico co-authored legislation to mandate DEI lessons in schools and opposed bills to restrict child sex-change operations, arguing that 'God is nonbinary.' He has also criticized efforts to limit the teaching of critical race theory and DEI in Texas classrooms.

  • In 2012, Talarico posted about teaching students about global warming.
  • In 2019, Talarico responded to posts about developing a plan for 'our children of color'.
  • In 2021, Talarico co-authored legislation to mandate DEI lessons and opposed bills to restrict child sex-change operations.
  • In 2021, Talarico criticized efforts to limit the teaching of critical race theory and DEI in Texas.
  • In 2023, Talarico sponsored legislation to prohibit 'race-based hair discrimination' in schools.

The players

James Talarico

A Democratic Texas state representative who is the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Talarico has a history of pushing a far-left agenda, including in his previous role as a public school teacher.

Jasmine Crockett

A Democratic state representative in Texas who Talarico defeated in the primary for the U.S. Senate nomination.

John Cornyn

The Republican U.S. senator from Texas whose seat Talarico is seeking to win.

Ken Paxton

The Republican attorney general of Texas.

Greg Abbott

The Republican governor of Texas.

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What they’re saying

“As a white man, I'm susceptible to the same radicalization. Thankfully, I was exposed to diversity at a young age and explicitly taught the values of equality, inclusion, and justice. But not every young white boy is so lucky.”

— James Talarico, Texas state representative (Twitter)

“The worst part, for me, was the number of Christians who used scripture to justify hurting children. Even on this floor today, a member tried to justify a hateful amendment in the name of God's law.”

— James Talarico, Texas state representative (Texas Legislature)

“God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is nonbinary.”

— James Talarico, Texas state representative (Texas Legislature)

“You shouldn't leave your kids around someone like James Talarico. He has a creepy obsession with forcing his woke agenda into classrooms and speaking with young children about permanently mutilating their genitals. It is disgusting and way too radical for Texas.”

— Zach Kraft, Republican National Committee spokesman (Daily Caller News Foundation)

“John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, Greg Abbott and the billionaires who prop them up are scared of James Talarico for good reason: our campaign is building a movement poised to change the politics of this state and take power back for working people.”

— JT Ennis, Talarico campaign press secretary (Daily Caller News Foundation)

What’s next

The Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas is scheduled for May 2026, with the general election to follow in November 2026.

The takeaway

Talarico's history of pushing a far-left agenda in the classroom and as a state legislator raises concerns about whether he would continue to prioritize controversial social issues over more mainstream priorities if elected to the U.S. Senate. His actions could be seen as an abuse of his position of authority over students.