James Talarico Faces Mockery Over 2021 Fauci Doll Post as Fauci Invokes Fifth 111 Times
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 30
James Talarico Faces Mockery Over 2021 Fauci Doll Post as Fauci Invokes Fifth 111 Times
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 30
Summary
A 2021 Christmas post showing James Talarico with a Dr. Anthony Fauci doll resurfaced this week, drawing fresh ridicule from Texas Republicans and conservative commentators as his Senate race against Ken Paxton intensifies.
The renewed attention followed Fauci’s return to the spotlight after he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times in congressional questioning, giving critics a new opening to tie Talarico to a polarizing pandemic figure.
Brandon Gill, Ted Cruz and the NRA were among those amplifying the post on X, while Abbott’s campaign account mocked it as “Christmas in July.”
Republicans have already tried to cast Talarico as out of step with Texas voters, with Paxton calling him “too low-T for Texas” and a conservative AI ad depicting him in a dress.
The episode revives an old line of attack from the COVID era, when conservatives criticized Talarico for praising Fauci and backing vaccination messaging while serving in the Texas House.