James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the Texas Senate, is facing scrutiny for comments he made in May 2023, where he referred to Texas drag queens as 'some of the best' in the nation. This statement came as he criticized a bill in the Texas legislature that aimed to ban 'sexually oriented performances' on public property in the presence of minors. Talarico voted 'present' on the legislation after language specifically mentioning drag performers was removed, stating that the revised bill would better protect their performances.
In his remarks, Talarico expressed his belief that Texas is the best state and emphasized the importance of not allowing legislation to negatively impact the drag industry. His comments have drawn criticism from Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton's campaign, which described Talarico's views as out of touch with Texas voters. The Republican National Committee also criticized Talarico, suggesting he should avoid discussions around children and his agenda.
The legislation, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in June 2023, has faced legal challenges from LGBTQ organizations regarding its constitutionality. A federal appeals court recently allowed the law to go into effect while the legal battle continues. Polling indicates a competitive race between Talarico and Paxton, with recent surveys showing them tied among likely voters in Texas.