r/JamesTalarico

"May the better man win."

I think it's perfect. And something for Texans to really chew on and have to come to terms with prior to voting.

It's sporty, it's humble, it's James.

I love Talarico and I want to explain why every progressive should think the same. I'm not in Texas, so I regrettably can't vote for him. If he wins and does well in the Senate (actually passes progressive policies), he would be my easy choice to run for President.

The reality is, we need to get, at least, the moderates on board. As a progressive surrounded by conservatives who don't really have strong beliefs, its become clear to me that progressive policies can actually convince people to flip under the right conditions.

If you're like me, you want these progressive policies in place immediately. Free healthcare for citizens, minimizing the influence money in politics, and a progressive tax plan (specifically on that top 0.1%), among other things, are everyone's dream here. But voters who could be flipped need something to latch onto in order to actually go to the polls, and we need progressives to actually get elected in order to make change.

There is a constant push and pull between having strong progressive policies and electability. Most people just aren't willing to stake their vote on someone deemed too "radical" (righteously or not).

For me, Talarico is an almost supernatural balance of the two. He's a through-and-through American with strong Christian beliefs, but still is an advocate for the top issues of progressives. He has an entirely clean voting record and is an amazing orator (he reminds me a lot of Obama). He's a faithful man but advocates strongly for the separation of church and state. He's actually a public servant and has nothing to do with massive corporations. He unabashedly calls out the woes of MAGA and the top 1%. He has made a name for himself working for bipartisan deals and is relatable to those across the aisle. He's not a million years old and is willing to publicly defend himself. The fact he even stands a chance (never mind leading in the polls!) in this race is emblematic of how perfect he is.

Look at how Texas Republicans are attacking him. Low-T Talarico? He's vegan? He doesn't have a girlfriend? The reality is, conservatives can't use their normal attacks on him because he still has strong Christian beliefs and a deep Texas lineage. Their level of pettiness has to descend to a level even below racism and Christian-nationalism, and I think the average person is seeing how sad that is. I can't wait to see this debate because he's going to blow Paxton out of the water, and if we learned anything from 2024, that really matters.

Think seriously about the average voter who really doesn't care about politics. Would they get out of bed for another "Californian democrat" who says they're going to change a million things? We've heard this story a million times. Talarico is the most agreeable, electable candidate that holds strong progressive views. It sucks that being Christian still matters in our elections. It sucks that having an anglo-saxon name still matters in our elections. But, its also ignorant to assume it doesn't for some voters. And its counterproductive to ignore that it does.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We're far from that first step, but we still have a long way to go. Talarico is the leader that we need in our current political climate. I know a lot of people here probably want an even more progressive candidate to hitch their wagon to, but I think a candidate who still resembles an average American while being very progressive is exactly what will win elections and further our cause.

"At least one member of a Texas family whose business once considered buying Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious plane — “The Lolita Express” — donated thousands of dollars to support Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign earlier this year, according to federal campaign finance records.

The Jaffe family, known for its real estate holdings and aviation business based in Texas, appears in two batches of Epstein documents released by the Department of Justice: once for trying to buy Epstein’s infamous plane, and once for reportedly associating — according to an anonymous tipster — with scantily clad young women."

While John's episode didn't work to prevent Paxton's election to AG, Talarico is in a much better position to flip a Senate seat and beat Paxton to replace Cornyn. Every little bit of dirt counts in a tight race, even the theft of a pen. #wheresthepenken

This line is crazy!! I drove in from San Angelo and I honestly was not expecting a line like this. Great mix of people too. I love to see it!

The Houston Chronicle has an op-ed about Ken Paxton's economic plan, and how it might actually work to drive up prices rather than make things more affordable. Here is a key quote:

>Pouring in more money via tax cuts without, say, making the healthcare industry more competitive or making it easier to build homes will inevitably drive prices higher. Basically, Paxton is taking a page out of the San Francisco playbook. Tech workers saw their personal wealth boom, but the region refused to add new housing, resulting in a market where you have to shell out $1 million-plus for a one-bedroom condo. Paxton wants to take that dynamic nationwide.

His thoughts on what brought us here and ideas for fixing it are bold, insightful and welcoming to all.