A 2019 committee-hearing video shows James Talarico saying parents who deny a child’s gender identity are "abusive for sure," reviving a past stance as he runs in a close Texas Senate race.
HB 1910 was meant to bar courts from treating a parent’s refusal to affirm a child’s gender identity as child abuse in custody cases, but Talarico opposed the bill, saying ruling that out could harm vulnerable children.
The resurfaced clip undercuts Talarico’s effort to present himself as a moderate on gender, policing and border security while trying to win over voters in Republican-leaning Texas ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Texas later enacted a stronger version of the measure in 2025; Talarico opposed it as one of 59 no votes, though he also backed amendments including one stating that rejecting a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation is abuse.
Talarico’s campaign responded that he respects parental decisions and has backed parental-rights legislation, while Republicans seized on the comments to intensify attacks in the race against Ken Paxton.