James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, once suggested that parents who do not acknowledge their children’s gender identities could be engaging in “abusive” behavior. In 2019, Talarico stated during a Texas Legislature committee hearing that denying a child’s gender identity could be harmful and could be considered abusive, even if not legally labeled as such.
These past comments by Talarico present a challenge as he tries to appeal to Texas voters by portraying himself as a moderate on various issues, including gender identity, policing, and border security. Texas has traditionally leaned Republican, adding to the difficulty of his campaign.
While speaking at a campaign rally, Talarico, involved in a tight race against Republican candidate Ken Paxton, commented on House Bill 1910. The bill, introduced to prevent parents from being labeled as abusive for not affirming their child’s gender identity during custody cases, was opposed by Talarico. He argued there could be cases where the lack of acknowledgment might indeed be abusive.
My concern is ruling it out as not being abuse… could harm some of our most vulnerable kids in the state.
During a debate, Talarico expressed that some people, including himself, view failing to affirm a child’s gender identity as abusive and destructive. His stance received backlash from Republicans, with Zach Kraft of the Republican National Committee harshly criticizing Talarico.
The initial version of the bill did not pass, but a stronger version was later approved in May 2025. Talarico voted against this revised version and supported amendments that would label rejecting a child’s gender identity as abuse under Texas law.
Talarico’s campaign insists he supports parental rights and believes parents should have the primary role in their children’s upbringing. His campaign spokesperson emphasized his efforts to protect parental rights while contrasting them with Ken Paxton’s record on public safety.
Leo Briceno, reporting for Fox News Digital, provided further coverage of Talarico’s political activities and the electoral contest in Texas.