Texas Land Commissioner Candidate Defends James Talarico at Democratic Convention

Ben Flores, a candidate for Texas Land Commissioner, defended state Representative James Talarico during the Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi on June 28, 2026. Flores stated, "Next time they say that James is trans, we’re all trans. When they say James is a tofu-eating vegan, we’re all tofu-eating vegans. And when they say James is going to hell, we’ll say, we’re all going to hell." This defense comes amid a series of attacks on Talarico from Republican opponents since he announced his U.S. Senate campaign, which focuses on issues such as healthcare, corruption, immigration, and foreign policy. Critics have raised questions about Talarico's gender identity and religious views. Talarico is running against Republican nominee Ken Paxton, with recent polling indicating that voters are evenly split.