356: The Rising Star of Texas Politics: James Talarico
Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt
Politicon
4.6 • 3.8K Ratings
🗓️ 13 February 2026
⏱️ 16 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
James & Al are joined on the sofa by James Talarico as they discuss his campaign for the U.S. Senate from Texas, emphasizing the importance of grassroots support and addressing issues like healthcare and housing. He reflects on his political journey, the role of faith in his life, and the need for a Democratic Party that truly represents the people. Talarico also critiques the politicization of Christianity and advocates for a return to the core values of compassion and service.
Chapters
00:00 James Talarico: The Rising Star of Texas Politics
00:10 Challenging the Status Quo in Texas
03:30 The Role of Faith in Politics
06:25 Legislative Achievements and Bipartisanship
10:52 The Teachings of Jesus and Political Responsibility
14:09 Looking Ahead: The Future of the Democratic Party
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We have the hottest new candidate of 2006, Texas, James Tala Rico. |
| 0:06.2 | If a year ago, we had asked everyone we knew in politics outside the state of Texas about |
| 0:11.0 | James Tala Rico, would have gotten a blank stare. |
| 0:13.1 | But now most of them know exactly who we're talking about. |
| 0:15.4 | He's running for the United States Senate for a seat now held by John Cornyn and faces a tough primary. So Republican, I think Lloyd Benson was the last |
| 0:25.0 | Democrat elected to the Senate from the state of Texas, and that was almost 40 years ago. |
| 0:31.0 | Why can you change that? Why is it different now? Why are you different? Well, there is a backlash |
| 0:36.0 | growing in Texas against the extremism and the |
| 0:40.1 | corruption that we're seeing at all levels of our government. And I'm seeing it everywhere I go. I'm, |
| 0:45.2 | I've held rallies and town halls from Beaumont, Tel Paso, from Amarillo to Brownsville, and everywhere in |
| 0:51.4 | between, red areas, blue areas alike. And we've had to move venues |
| 0:56.2 | because we have so many people who are interested in showing up and joining this campaign. |
| 1:00.8 | And I think it's because people are hungry for someone who's going to take on the corporate |
| 1:05.7 | special interests, the billionaire mega donors who control our politics. And I've shown that I can do |
| 1:10.7 | that in the state |
| 1:11.3 | legislature where I fought tooth and nail against the billionaires who are trying to dismantle |
| 1:16.9 | public education. I fought to cap insulin at $25 a month. And I passed the largest housing bill in |
| 1:25.5 | recent memory to make it easier for young people to afford |
| 1:29.2 | their own home. And so that's the kind of leadership people are looking for in the Democratic Party. |
| 1:34.3 | I think our people-powered campaign in Texas is inspiring folks across the political spectrum |
| 1:39.1 | to take back our government and take back our state. |
| 1:42.3 | Now, to get there, you've got to win a primary. And I watched a debate about a week ago, I guess, with Congresswoman Crockett. |
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