James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Texas, has expressed support for drag performers in the state, naming Alyssa Edwards as his favorite when asked at a campaign event. Edwards, known publicly as Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson, is a drag performer who advocates for working with youth in drag shows.
Talarico faced scrutiny over past remarks on sexuality and gender issues, including his statement that “God is nonbinary” and his praise for Texas’s drag queens. These comments have become focal points in the Senate race.
Footage shows Talarico being approached by a man who expressed appreciation for his defense of drag performers. When asked to identify his favorite drag queen in Texas, Talarico quickly named Alyssa Edwards. This moment follows reports of Talarico’s involvement in a 2021 event in Taylor, Texas, where an 11-year-old performed in drag.
Johnson, who performs as Alyssa Edwards, has been prominent in advocating for young drag talent, featuring in projects such as the Netflix docuseries “Dancing Queen.” His influence included mentoring young dancers and involving them in performances, like World Pride in New York.
Talarico’s spokesperson deflected criticism of his comments, contrasting Talarico’s choice in performers to his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton.
When addressing criticism regarding his previous remarks, Talarico acknowledged he “missed the mark,” particularly disagreeing with his past claim of six sexes, attributing criticism to partisan politics.
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for commentary from Johnson’s team and reported contributions from its staff.