Texas Senate Candidate Talarico Criticizes ICE and Billionaire Funding

James Talarico, a 37-year-old state legislator and Presbyterian seminarian, is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas. He aims to break the Republican hold on the state’s two Senate seats, a feat the Democratic Party has not achieved since 1988.

Talarico argues that the election is not a traditional left-right divide. He describes it as a struggle between ordinary people and wealthy elites. “The real fight in this country is not between left and right,” he said. “We are all joining forces to face the multimillionaires and corrupt politicians who have been taking advantage of us.”

His campaign focuses heavily on Hispanic voters, who make up nearly a third of the Texas electorate. This group supported Donald Trump in 2024, breaking from decades of Democratic support. Talarico acknowledges their frustration with current prices and corruption. He notes that many voters believed Trump would lower costs, yet prices have risen. He also points out that corruption feels worse than ever.

A YouGov poll shows that 56% of Hispanic voters in Texas believe immigration enforcement has gone too far. Talarico calls ICE a “secret police” under the current administration. He cites the July shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araújo, a Mexican worker, by an ICE agent in Houston. Talarico proposes banning masked agents, requiring body cameras, and ensuring officers have proper police training. He also supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes border security and a path to citizenship for long-term residents.

On asylum, Talarico says the system needs reform but should allow legitimate applicants to seek refuge. He proposes hiring more immigration judges to process cases quickly. He says the asylum law “deserves to be reviewed” but stops short of promising strict restrictions. Trump has cut irregular border crossings to historic lows by suspending asylum applications by decree.

The race is the most expensive non-presidential contest in U.S. history. AdImpact reports that over $573.2 million has been spent on ads. Talarico’s rival, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, has spent about $274.1 million, with 92% coming from outside groups. Elon Musk is the top benefactor of those groups. CNN reports that Musk has given at least $168 million to groups supporting Paxton, out of over $445 million given to Republicans.

Talarico promises to ban super PACs, which can accept unlimited donations without coordinating directly with campaigns. His own campaign, however, has support from a super PAC backed by Reid Hoffman, who has donated at least $11.5 million. Talarico downplays the difference, saying, “I don’t think anyone has given me 200 million dollars.” He insists the funding gap with Paxton is stark. He says, “Musk wants his own senator. On November 3, we will send a clear message to the world’s richest man: Texas is not for sale.”