Talarico Faces Scrutiny Over 2020 Anti-Capitalism Remarks in 51%-48% Texas Senate Race
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 2
Talarico Faces Scrutiny Over 2020 Anti-Capitalism Remarks in 51%-48% Texas Senate Race
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 2
Summary
A resurfaced 2020 Zoom call shows Texas Democrat James Talarico saying capitalism was an “oppressive system” that should be dismantled and predicting the state’s oil and gas industry “is not gonna last.”
The comments cut against Talarico’s current pitch as a “proud capitalist” who supports extending Texas energy dominance, prompting his campaign to say he had already acknowledged missing the mark on some past statements.
Paxton-aligned groups quickly amplified the remarks in a race that could help decide Senate control, adding to earlier Republican attacks over Talarico’s past comments on religion, gender and social issues.
Texas has become a top-tier battleground despite Democrats not winning a Senate race there in nearly 40 years: a late-July Fox News poll showed Talarico ahead 51%-48%, and power rankings shifted the contest to toss-up.