Talarico Backs Ban on Minors' Gender Surgery as Texas Senate Race Tightens
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 10
Talarico Backs Ban on Minors' Gender Surgery as Texas Senate Race Tightens
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 10
Summary
James Talarico said he would support a national ban on gender surgery for minors, a notable shift after voting against Texas SB 14 in 2023 while backing 18 failed Democratic amendments.
The Democrat also said he would oppose trans athletes in girls' sports when safety or fairness is at risk, and disavowed past remarks that "God is nonbinary" and that there are more than two sexes.
Talarico framed the reversals as corrections rather than a policy flip, saying his earlier opposition targeted overly broad language and that he had "missed the mark" in prior statements.
The repositioning comes with the Nov. 3 Texas Senate race against Republican Ken Paxton entering its final stretch, with control of the Senate seen as critical to both parties.
Even as he moderates on transgender issues, Talarico kept attacking Paxton as corrupt and said he wants campaign attention centered on affordability, including groceries, gas and utilities.