Guy Benson, a columnist for the Washington Examiner, discussed Texas State Representative James Talarico's recent campaign for the Texas Senate during an appearance on Fox News's The Will Cain Show. Benson stated that Talarico is not likely to change his public persona for voters, asserting, "This guy is exactly who he is on paper, not this new makeover version that he’s trying to thrust statewide."
Benson claimed that Talarico has attempted to distance himself from previous statements regarding his dietary choices, specifically questioning the source of accusations that he is a vegan. Benson referenced a video from the spring of 2022 in which Talarico discussed running an "all-vegan campaign" as a moral obligation. In the video, Talarico stated, "It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption and that we try to respect animals in all aspects of society," and mentioned that his campaign would only buy vegan products from local businesses.
Talarico faced criticism in May for ordering a meatless taco, which prompted comments from former President Donald Trump, who remarked, "You can’t get elected as a vegan in Texas." Talarico has since clarified that he is not vegan, sharing a photo of himself with a turkey leg in March. Additionally, Benson highlighted a report indicating that Talarico shares his only checking account with his mother, stating, "This guy’s pushing 40, he’s got one bank account, and he shares it with mom. I opened my first savings account with my mother in fourth grade."