Texas Republican Rep. Beth Van Duyne escalated her attacks on Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico over the weekend, describing him as a far-left candidate whose policy agenda would be disastrous for the Lone Star State.
Speaking on The Hill Sunday, Van Duyne claimed Talarico is “pretty much a complete DSA candidate,” a reference to the Democratic Socialists of America, even though Talarico has never been a member of that organization.
“His views would kill Texas,” Van Duyne told host Chris Stirewalt. “I don’t think the majority of Texans are going to agree that we need to think about trans kids all the time, that we need to put all the means of production in the government, that if you are a Christian, that you’re going to hate Christianity.”
Talarico, a Presbyterian minister, has made his Christian faith a centerpiece of his campaign while arguing that faith should not be used to impose religious beliefs on others. He has also been a vocal critic of Texas’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, calling for legislation to protect transgender youth.
However, Talarico has not proposed nationalizing the means of production, as Van Duyne suggested. His economic platform includes raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations, boosting the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and limiting the influence of corporate political action committees.
Van Duyne dismissed Talarico’s chances, arguing that his “crazy views” would not resonate with enough Texas voters to break the GOP’s decades-long hold on Senate seats. No Democrat has won a Senate election in Texas since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988.
Despite her skepticism, recent polling and handicapping suggest the race is tightening. Decision Desk HQ gives Talarico a 49 percent chance of defeating Republican nominee Ken Paxton, the state attorney general. The Cook Political Report shifted the Texas Senate race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up” this week, a sign that Democrats may have a genuine opening in a state that has been reliably red in recent cycles.
The shift comes amid broader Democratic optimism about down-ballot races in Texas, with some governor's races also moving toward Democrats in the latest ratings. Van Duyne’s comments reflect the GOP’s urgency to define Talarico early, but his campaign has sought to counter by highlighting his moderate stances on issues like energy independence and border security.
Talarico has also pushed back on the socialist label, pointing to his record as a state representative who has worked across the aisle on issues like rural broadband and mental health funding. His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Van Duyne’s remarks.
