Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico (D) on Wednesday evening took aim at the Biden administration's immigration record, telling a town hall audience that the former president "failed" the state on border security. The Democratic nominee, running in a state where immigration remains a top concern, used the event to carve out a centrist position on the issue.
At the town hall in Fort Worth, co-hosted by CNN and Jubilee, Talarico declared himself a "border security Democrat," a label he said reflects the need for a pragmatic approach that rejects the extremes of both parties. "Both political parties have failed us on this issue," he said. "Joe Biden failed us during his administration by not securing the border."
While criticizing Biden's policies, Talarico also voiced opposition to certain tactics used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Trump's crackdown. He argued that the agency's focus has strayed from its core mission. "ICE should be focused on going after the cartels, not our communities," he said. "They should be going after violent gang members, not moms and babies."
He called for comprehensive immigration reform that would "reject the extremism on this issue in both parties," and made clear he does not support abolishing ICE, a stance held by some progressive Democrats. "We need immigration and customs enforcement in this country, but that's not what we're seeing," Talarico said. "What we've seen over the last year is a secret police force, and that's what we don't want in this country."
The candidate specifically referenced the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE officer in Houston in July, pledging to "fight" for justice for individuals like Araujo if elected to Congress. The incident has drawn scrutiny to the agency's enforcement practices in Texas.
Talarico also signaled a willingness to break with his party on matters of state interest. "I'm a proud Democrat, but I already have a religion, and I already have a sports team, so I have no problem sharing hard truths with my party if it's what's best for Texas," he said.
His opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who has Trump's endorsement, has so far declined to debate Talarico. Paxton's campaign website lists border security as a key platform, including support for completing the president's border wall if he wins in November.
Immigration remains a defining issue for Texas voters heading into the midterms. A Fox News poll from late September found that 47 percent of likely voters consider immigration "extremely important" to their vote, with Paxton holding a 20-point advantage among that group. A separate New York Times/Siena College survey showed 12 percent of likely voters naming immigration as their top issue, second only to affordability.
Despite the focus on border security, the Times/Siena poll found Talarico leading Paxton 51 percent to 45 percent among likely voters. The race is seen as a key test in the 2026 midterm landscape, with Democrats hoping to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the GOP's handling of the issue. Talarico's campaign has continued to gain momentum, as noted by Texas Democratic Party Chair, who said the campaign is "full steam ahead" after a recent flu bout.
Talarico's town hall appearance comes as Paxton's decision to skip debates draws attention, and as GOP surrogates like Vance stump in Texas to defend the party's House majority. The race's outcome could hinge on how voters weigh Talarico's border security message against Paxton's hardline stance.
