Talarico Reverses Stances on Gender, Religion, and Sports Amid Tight Texas Senate Race

What Happened

Texas Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico publicly retracted several past statements during an interview on Fox News Channel’s “The Story” on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Talarico, a Texas State Representative, walked back his 2021 claim that “God is non-binary,” stating he was “being provocative” and intended to convey that “you can’t use human categories to define God.” He also reversed his 2021 assertion that there were “six biological sexes,” clarifying that he now believes “there are two sexes, and then there’s a small percentage of people with genetic abnormalities.” Furthermore, Talarico, who previously voted against a state bill (SB 14) prohibiting gender surgery for minors in 2023, now stated he would “absolutely” vote for a national ban on such surgeries. He also shifted his stance on transgender athletes in women’s sports, indicating he would oppose their participation “if it endangers safety or fairness,” a departure from his 2021 opposition to SB 29 and HB 25, which sought to restrict participation based on biological sex.

These reversals occurred as the Texas Senate race, where Talarico faces Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, is reportedly tightening according to recent Fox News polling. The interview took place at a food drive campaign event in Dallas on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, coinciding with the first-ever GOP midterm convention held nearby. Talarico attributed his past “provocative” comments to attempts by opponents, specifically Ken Paxton, to “clip out of context” statements to “distract from Ken Paxton’s career of corruption.” He also pledged to refocus his campaign message on economic affordability, citing struggles with “groceries, gas, utilities, health care” across Texas.

What the Evidence Establishes

The evidence establishes a clear pattern of strategic policy and rhetorical shifts by James Talarico. In 2021, during a Texas State House Public Education Committee hearing, Talarico stated there were “six biological sexes,” a position he now explicitly disavows, confirming to Fox News correspondent Brooke Taylor, “There are not six sexes, there are two.” Similarly, his 2021 declaration that “God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non-binary” has been recontextualized as a “provocative” theological statement rather than a literal claim about divine gender identity. These retractions are direct and unambiguous, with Talarico admitting, “I’ve missed the mark on some of my past statements.”

Regarding legislative actions, Talarico’s voting record shows opposition to bills that align with his newly stated positions. In 2023, he voted against SB 14, a Texas bill that prohibited gender surgery, puberty blockers, and certain hormone treatments for minors. He now asserts he would vote for a national ban on such surgeries, claiming consistency by stating he supported amendments to limit the bill’s scope to minors. However, all 18 Democratic amendments to SB 14, which Talarico supported, ultimately failed. Furthermore, in 2021, he opposed SB 29 and voted against HB 25, both of which aimed to restrict public-school athletes to compete based on biological sex. His current position, opposing transgender athletes in girls’ sports if safety or fairness is endangered, marks a significant evolution from his earlier characterization of the issue as a “manufactured problem.”

Where the Accounts Conflict

The primary area of conflict lies in Talarico’s framing of his past legislative actions versus the perception of a complete policy reversal. When confronted about his vote against SB 14, which banned gender surgery for minors, Talarico stated, “I’ve been consistent on this issue,” explaining that the bill “was overly broad” and he supported amendments to “limit the bill to banning surgeries for minors.” He argued his job as a lawmaker was to “sift through everything the bill does” and sometimes oppose a bill as a whole if it contained “harmful” elements, even while supporting specific amendments. This account suggests a nuanced legislative approach rather than outright opposition to the core intent of banning minor surgeries.

However, critics, including the Fox News interviewers, presented his past votes as direct opposition to the measures, implying a shift in fundamental policy stance rather than a procedural disagreement. The source material does not provide Talarico’s specific amendment language, making it difficult to fully assess the extent of his claimed consistency. Additionally, Talarico introduced a counter-narrative by accusing his opponent, Ken Paxton, of corruption, alleging that Paxton’s acquittal in the state Senate was influenced by “two of his billionaire megadonors” who “gave the lieutenant governor a $3 million check.” This claim, while attributed to Talarico, is presented without corroborating evidence within the provided source, and the Paxton campaign’s response was not included in the available text.

Context and Stakes

The timing of James Talarico’s public reversals is critical, occurring as the Texas U.S. Senate race against incumbent Republican Ken Paxton enters its final months before the November 3 general election. Recent Fox News polling indicates the race is “surprisingly close,” elevating its significance for both national parties. Control of the U.S. Senate hinges on a few key races, and a Republican loss in Texas would significantly impede President Donald Trump’s ability to implement his agenda, assuming a Republican presidential victory. Talarico’s pivot on culturally sensitive issues like gender identity, biological sex, and transgender sports participation appears to be a strategic move to appeal to a broader, potentially more moderate, electorate in a traditionally conservative state.

The interview’s proximity to the first-ever GOP midterm convention in Dallas further underscores the political pressure. Talarico’s decision to address these “controversial woke statements” directly on Fox News, a platform popular with conservative voters, suggests an attempt to neutralize potential attack lines from the Paxton campaign. His subsequent pledge to focus on economic issues like “$6 diesel,” groceries, gas, utilities, and healthcare affordability reflects a common campaign strategy to shift focus from social issues to kitchen-table concerns that resonate with a wider demographic. The stakes are high for Talarico, as these reversals could either broaden his appeal or alienate his progressive base, while for Paxton, they represent an opportunity to highlight perceived inconsistencies.

What to Watch Next

Observers should closely monitor the Ken Paxton campaign’s response to Talarico’s recent interview and policy shifts. Given Talarico’s direct accusations of corruption against Paxton, and the significant reversals on social issues, the Paxton campaign is likely to issue a robust counter-statement or launch new attack ads. The nature and tone of this response will indicate how the Republican campaign plans to leverage Talarico’s past statements and current explanations. Specifically, watch for whether Paxton’s campaign focuses on Talarico’s alleged inconsistencies or attempts to reinforce the narrative of Talarico as a “woke” politician despite his recent pivots.

Additionally, attention should be paid to Talarico’s campaign messaging in the coming weeks. His pledge to focus on “affordability” and economic issues will be tested by the media and his opponent. It will be important to observe if he consistently adheres to this new focus, or if social issues continue to surface in his public appearances and campaign materials. His stance on a state income tax, where he previously voted against a permanent ban but now states “we should not have a state income tax,” also warrants scrutiny for consistency. Finally, any shifts in polling data following these public statements will provide an early indication of whether Talarico’s strategic repositioning is resonating with Texas voters or creating further skepticism.

Bottom Line

James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee for Texas, has undertaken a significant and public repositioning on several key social and religious issues, including biological sex, gender identity, and transgender participation in sports. These reversals, made during a Fox News interview, appear to be a calculated strategic maneuver to broaden his appeal in a tightening Senate race against Republican Ken Paxton. Talarico explicitly retracted his 2021 claims of “six biological sexes” and “God is non-binary,” and shifted his legislative stance to support bans on gender surgery for minors and oppose transgender athletes in women’s sports under certain conditions, despite past votes to the contrary. He framed his past legislative actions as nuanced attempts to amend overly broad bills, rather than outright opposition to the underlying policy goals.

The timing of these shifts, just months before the November 3 election, underscores the high stakes of the Texas Senate race for national party control. Talarico’s attempt to pivot to economic issues and accuse Paxton of corruption suggests an effort to neutralize attack lines and redirect the campaign narrative. The effectiveness of this strategy will depend on voter perception of his sincerity, his ability to maintain message discipline, and the counter-narratives deployed by the Paxton campaign. The outcome will provide insight into the viability of such strategic reversals in highly polarized political environments.