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James Talarico earned a bachelor’s degree in government from The University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in education policy from Harvard University. He is a member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

James is a former middle school teacher. He previously served as a Texas state representative.

Are Texas Democrats setting up for a contentious U.S. Senate ...

State Rep. James Talarico enters Democratic primary for U.S. Senate

James is a former middle school teacher. 

James is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2018 and is currently serving his fourth term.

Texas Rep. James Talarico to launch Democratic primary bid for ...

Texas Senate race heats up as candidates campaign across the ...

Believes in government that "serves working people instead of giant corporations."

Wants to "make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes" — including by imposing a higher tax on their income and capital gains.

Supports making corporations pay more in taxes by raising the corporate tax rate, closing loopholes like carried interest, and ending other corporate tax breaks.

Plans to raise the tax on corporate stock buybacks, which "corporations use to artificially inflate their stock prices."

Seeks to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and incentivize CEOs to "pay fair wages" by creating a special tax on corporations that pay their top executives more than 250 times their median worker’s salary.

Supports protecting Medicare and Social Security by increasing contributions from high earners, removing the payroll tax cap for incomes over $400,000, and encouraging employer-sponsored pensions.

Wants to expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit—which provide tax relief to families with children and to low- and moderate-income workers—saying it "rewards hard work, offsets the cost of raising children, and can save the government money over the long-term."

Supports preventing corporate landlords from manipulating rents, limiting Wall Street purchases of housing, expanding affordable housing tax credits, reducing regulatory barriers to lower insurance costs, and promoting modular housing to speed up home construction.

Plans to protect SNAP and WIC nutrition programs, increase oversight of mergers that raise prices, remove tariffs on imported produce not grown in the U.S., and reduce barriers for new grocery providers to boost competition.

Supports expanding access to high-speed internet across Texas.

Supports using AI to benefit workers by protecting them from invasive workplace surveillance, making jobs safer and less repetitive, enforcing copyright laws for AI companies, including workers in government AI research, and ensuring transparency and human review in automated employment decisions.

- Believes in government that "serves working people instead of giant corporations."
- Wants to "make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes" — including by imposing a higher tax on their income and capital gains.
- Supports making corporations pay more in taxes by raising the corporate tax rate, closing loopholes like carried interest, and ending other corporate tax breaks.
- Plans to raise the tax on corporate stock buybacks, which "corporations use to artificially inflate their stock prices."
- Seeks to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and incentivize CEOs to "pay fair wages" by creating a special tax on corporations that pay their top executives more than 250 times their median worker’s salary.
- Supports protecting Medicare and Social Security by increasing contributions from high earners, removing the payroll tax cap for incomes over $400,000, and encouraging employer-sponsored pensions.
- Wants to expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit—which provide tax relief to families with children and to low- and moderate-income workers—saying it "rewards hard work, offsets the cost of raising children, and can save the government money over the long-term."
- Supports preventing corporate landlords from manipulating rents, limiting Wall Street purchases of housing, expanding affordable housing tax credits, reducing regulatory barriers to lower insurance costs, and promoting modular housing to speed up home construction.
- Plans to protect SNAP and WIC nutrition programs, increase oversight of mergers that raise prices, remove tariffs on imported produce not grown in the U.S., and reduce barriers for new grocery providers to boost competition.
- Supports expanding access to high-speed internet across Texas.
- Supports using AI to benefit workers by protecting them from invasive workplace surveillance, making jobs safer and less repetitive, enforcing copyright laws for AI companies, including workers in government AI research, and ensuring transparency and human review in automated employment decisions.

Economy

Supports preventing crime by investing in education, youth programs, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment.

Supports fully resourcing law enforcement at all levels, including investments in training, oversight, and accountability.

Supports expanding funding for programs that assist crime victims and survivors with legal, financial, housing, and counseling support.

Supports protecting Second Amendment rights while reducing gun violence through universal background checks, safe storage requirements around children, tougher enforcement against illegal gun trafficking, and raising the purchase age for certain semi-automatic rifles.

Supports legalizing and regulating marijuana for adults, expunging related low-level offenses, and redirecting law enforcement focus to violent crime.

Supports investing in reentry programs that provide job training, housing, and treatment to reduce repeat offenses.

- Supports preventing crime by investing in education, youth programs, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment.
- Supports fully resourcing law enforcement at all levels, including investments in training, oversight, and accountability.
- Supports expanding funding for programs that assist crime victims and survivors with legal, financial, housing, and counseling support.
- Supports protecting Second Amendment rights while reducing gun violence through universal background checks, safe storage requirements around children, tougher enforcement against illegal gun trafficking, and raising the purchase age for certain semi-automatic rifles.
- Supports legalizing and regulating marijuana for adults, expunging related low-level offenses, and redirecting law enforcement focus to violent crime.
- Supports investing in reentry programs that provide job training, housing, and treatment to reduce repeat offenses.

Public Safety

Aims to create a federal public health insurance option that "competes" with private insurance.

Wants to institute caps on out-of-pocket costs for "lifesaving drugs."

Supports increasing healthcare price transparency, expanding Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices, and regulating pharmacy benefit managers to prevent patient overcharges for prescription drug costs.

Supports regulating social media to protect children and ensure accountability, including giving parents more control, limiting targeted content for minors, requiring algorithm impact assessments, and reducing broad legal immunity for platforms, without infringing on free speech.

Supports saving rural hospitals by recruiting and retaining healthcare workers, improving Medicaid and Medicare payments, and ensuring sufficient funding for essential services and local employment.

Supports access to abortion, contraception, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

- Aims to create a federal public health insurance option that "competes" with private insurance.
- Wants to institute caps on out-of-pocket costs for "lifesaving drugs."
- Supports increasing healthcare price transparency, expanding Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices, and regulating pharmacy benefit managers to prevent patient overcharges for prescription drug costs.
- Supports regulating social media to protect children and ensure accountability, including giving parents more control, limiting targeted content for minors, requiring algorithm impact assessments, and reducing broad legal immunity for platforms, without infringing on free speech.
- Supports saving rural hospitals by recruiting and retaining healthcare workers, improving Medicaid and Medicare payments, and ensuring sufficient funding for essential services and local employment.
- Supports access to abortion, contraception, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Healthcare

Supports improving reading and math outcomes by encouraging schools to use evidence-based approaches like phonics, early literacy programs, and intensive tutoring.

Supports hiring and training more teachers by expanding federal programs that strengthen educator preparation and help address teacher shortages.

Opposes private school voucher programs, arguing they divert funding away from public schools.

Supports universal early childhood education, including universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, expanded childcare access, and continued support for Head Start programs.

Supports protecting funding and oversight for special education to ensure students receive needed services.

Supports expanding career pathways by strengthening community college and career and technical education programs in middle and high school.

Supports student health initiatives, including expanding school meal programs and increasing access to school counselors and mental health resources.

- Supports improving reading and math outcomes by encouraging schools to use evidence-based approaches like phonics, early literacy programs, and intensive tutoring.
- Supports hiring and training more teachers by expanding federal programs that strengthen educator preparation and help address teacher shortages.
- Opposes private school voucher programs, arguing they divert funding away from public schools.
- Supports universal early childhood education, including universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, expanded childcare access, and continued support for Head Start programs.
- Supports protecting funding and oversight for special education to ensure students receive needed services.
- Supports expanding career pathways by strengthening community college and career and technical education programs in middle and high school.
- Supports student health initiatives, including expanding school meal programs and increasing access to school counselors and mental health resources.

Education

Supports requiring AI data centers to pay for their own energy infrastructure updates so those "costs aren’t passed on to consumers."

Wants to "diversify our energy sources to drive down costs."

Supports expanding the Energy Star program to help consumers choose energy-efficient products and updating the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding formula so Texas receives fair funding to help families pay utility bills.

Supports expanding water access for rural communities through low-interest loans and grants for building or upgrading water systems.

- Supports requiring AI data centers to pay for their own energy infrastructure updates so those "costs aren’t passed on to consumers."
- Wants to "diversify our energy sources to drive down costs."
- Supports expanding the Energy Star program to help consumers choose energy-efficient products and updating the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding formula so Texas receives fair funding to help families pay utility bills.
- Supports expanding water access for rural communities through low-interest loans and grants for building or upgrading water systems.

Energy & the Environment

As of January 22, 2026, James Talarico’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Supports comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens border security, expands legal immigration, and supports economic growth.

Supports focusing ICE enforcement on serious public safety and national security threats, such as violent criminals, gang members, and human traffickers.

Supports increased accountability and oversight of ICE, including identification requirements and consequences for misconduct.

Supports creating pathways to legal status or citizenship for certain long-term undocumented immigrants, including spouses and DREAMers, and temporary work permits for recent arrivals filling needed jobs.

Supports modernizing ports of entry with advanced technology to better detect drugs and other threats.

Supports reforming the asylum system by hiring more judges, reducing backlogs, preventing fraud, and speeding protection for valid claims.

Supports an employer sponsorship program to help businesses address labor shortages in key sectors like construction and agriculture while lowering costs.

Supports strengthening labor standards for guest worker visas and enforcing rules against employers who "exploit immigrants or displace American workers and suppress their wages."

- Supports comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens border security, expands legal immigration, and supports economic growth.
- Supports focusing ICE enforcement on serious public safety and national security threats, such as violent criminals, gang members, and human traffickers.
- Supports increased accountability and oversight of ICE, including identification requirements and consequences for misconduct.
- Supports creating pathways to legal status or citizenship for certain long-term undocumented immigrants, including spouses and DREAMers, and temporary work permits for recent arrivals filling needed jobs.
- Supports modernizing ports of entry with advanced technology to better detect drugs and other threats.
- Supports reforming the asylum system by hiring more judges, reducing backlogs, preventing fraud, and speeding protection for valid claims.
- Supports an employer sponsorship program to help businesses address labor shortages in key sectors like construction and agriculture while lowering costs.
- Supports strengthening labor standards for guest worker visas and enforcing rules against employers who "exploit immigrants or displace American workers and suppress their wages."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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James Talarico

Wants to "make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes" — including by imposing a higher tax on their income and capital gains and "ending the dubious “buy, borrow, die” loopholes that billionaires use to grow untaxed wealth."

Aims to "make corporations pay their fair share in taxes" — including by raising the corporate tax rate... ending the “carried interest” tax loopholes that "allow hedge funds to avoid paying billions that they owe, and rolling back other extreme tax breaks that allow the largest corporations to pay $0 in federal income taxes."

Supports fighting "against attacks" on Medicare and Social Security to "ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share" into Social Security by eliminating the tax cap on those earning over $400,000 a year, and incentivize employer-sponsored pensions.

Wants to expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can "reward hard work, offset the cost of raising children, and can save the government money over the long-term."

Seeks to "stop corporate landlords from engaging in market manipulation to artificially hike rents," ban Wall Street from buying up housing stock... expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, repeal "outdated red tape" support legislation to lower property insurance costs, and create a federal task force charged with helping communities use "quality, cost-effective options like factory-built “modular” homes to speed up construction timelines."

Plans to "stand up to attacks" against SNAP and WIC, increase oversight into mergers and acquisitions that "artificially jack up prices," remove tariffs on produce that can’t be grown in the United States, and "reduce barriers to entry for new grocery providers to increase market competition."

- Believes in government that "serves working people instead of giant corporations."
- Wants to "make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes" — including by imposing a higher tax on their income and capital gains and "ending the dubious “buy, borrow, die” loopholes that billionaires use to grow untaxed wealth."
- Aims to "make corporations pay their fair share in taxes" — including by raising the corporate tax rate... ending the “carried interest” tax loopholes that "allow hedge funds to avoid paying billions that they owe, and rolling back other extreme tax breaks that allow the largest corporations to pay $0 in federal income taxes."
- Plans to raise the tax on corporate stock buybacks, which "corporations use to artificially inflate their stock prices."
- Seeks to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and incentivize CEOs to "pay fair wages" by creating a special tax on corporations that pay their top executives more than 250 times their median worker’s salary.
- Supports fighting "against attacks" on Medicare and Social Security to "ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share" into Social Security by eliminating the tax cap on those earning over $400,000 a year, and incentivize employer-sponsored pensions.
- Wants to expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can "reward hard work, offset the cost of raising children, and can save the government money over the long-term."
- Seeks to "stop corporate landlords from engaging in market manipulation to artificially hike rents," ban Wall Street from buying up housing stock... expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, repeal "outdated red tape" support legislation to lower property insurance costs, and create a federal task force charged with helping communities use "quality, cost-effective options like factory-built “modular” homes to speed up construction timelines."
- Plans to "stand up to attacks" against SNAP and WIC, increase oversight into mergers and acquisitions that "artificially jack up prices," remove tariffs on produce that can’t be grown in the United States, and "reduce barriers to entry for new grocery providers to increase market competition."

Supports reinstating the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s enhanced premium tax credits, increase price transparency and Medicare’s negotiating power to "ensure fair pricing, incentivize the development and approvals of generics, and regulate pharmacy benefit managers to ensure they’re not up-charging patients."

- Aims to create a federal public health insurance option that "competes" with private insurance.
- Wants to institute caps on out-of-pocket costs for "lifesaving drugs."
- Supports reinstating the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s enhanced premium tax credits, increase price transparency and Medicare’s negotiating power to "ensure fair pricing, incentivize the development and approvals of generics, and regulate pharmacy benefit managers to ensure they’re not up-charging patients."

Aims to expand the Energy Star program that "educates consumers about energy-efficient products," and "modernize" the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s disbursement formula to ensure Texas receives "equitable funds to help families with utility costs."

- Supports requiring AI data centers to pay for their own energy infrastructure updates so those "costs aren’t passed on to consumers."
- Wants to "diversify our energy sources to drive down costs."
- Aims to expand the Energy Star program that "educates consumers about energy-efficient products," and "modernize" the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s disbursement formula to ensure Texas receives "equitable funds to help families with utility costs."

Linkedin

Believes "we need a government that serves working people instead of giant corporations."

Wants to "make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes — including by imposing a higher tax on their income and capital gains and ending the dubious “buy, borrow, die” loopholes that billionaires use to grow untaxed wealth."

Aims to "make corporations pay their fair share in taxes — including by raising the corporate tax rate... ending the “carried interest” tax loopholes that allow hedge funds to avoid paying billions that they owe, and rolling back other extreme tax breaks that allow the largest corporations to pay $0 in federal income taxes."

Seeks to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and incentivize CEOs to "pay fair wages by creating a special tax on corporations that pay their top executives more than 250 times their median worker’s salary."

Supports fighting "against attacks" on Medicare and Social Security to "ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share into Social Security by eliminating the tax cap on those earning over $400,000 a year, and incentivize employer-sponsored pensions."

Wants to "expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which reward hard work, offset the cost of raising children, and can save the government money over the long-term."

Seeks to "stop corporate landlords from engaging in market manipulation to artificially hike rents, ban Wall Street from buying up housing stock... expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, repeal outdated red tape... support legislation to lower property insurance costs, and create a federal task force charged with helping communities use quality, cost-effective options like factory-built “modular” homes to speed up construction timelines."

Plans to "stand up to attacks against SNAP and WIC, increase oversight into mergers and acquisitions that artificially jack up prices, remove tariffs on produce that can’t be grown in the United States, and reduce barriers to entry for new grocery providers to increase market competition."

- Believes "we need a government that serves working people instead of giant corporations."
- Wants to "make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes — including by imposing a higher tax on their income and capital gains and ending the dubious “buy, borrow, die” loopholes that billionaires use to grow untaxed wealth."
- Aims to "make corporations pay their fair share in taxes — including by raising the corporate tax rate... ending the “carried interest” tax loopholes that allow hedge funds to avoid paying billions that they owe, and rolling back other extreme tax breaks that allow the largest corporations to pay $0 in federal income taxes."
- Plans to raise the tax on corporate stock buybacks, which "corporations use to artificially inflate their stock prices."
- Seeks to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and incentivize CEOs to "pay fair wages by creating a special tax on corporations that pay their top executives more than 250 times their median worker’s salary."
- Supports fighting "against attacks" on Medicare and Social Security to "ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share into Social Security by eliminating the tax cap on those earning over $400,000 a year, and incentivize employer-sponsored pensions."
- Wants to "expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which reward hard work, offset the cost of raising children, and can save the government money over the long-term."
- Seeks to "stop corporate landlords from engaging in market manipulation to artificially hike rents, ban Wall Street from buying up housing stock... expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, repeal outdated red tape... support legislation to lower property insurance costs, and create a federal task force charged with helping communities use quality, cost-effective options like factory-built “modular” homes to speed up construction timelines."
- Plans to "stand up to attacks against SNAP and WIC, increase oversight into mergers and acquisitions that artificially jack up prices, remove tariffs on produce that can’t be grown in the United States, and reduce barriers to entry for new grocery providers to increase market competition."

Aims to create a federal public health insurance option that competes with private insurance.

- Aims to create a federal public health insurance option that competes with private insurance.
- Wants to institute caps on out-of-pocket costs for "lifesaving drugs."
- Supports reinstating the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s enhanced premium tax credits, increase price transparency and Medicare’s negotiating power to "ensure fair pricing, incentivize the development and approvals of generics, and regulate pharmacy benefit managers to ensure they’re not up-charging patients."

Wants to "diversify our energy sources to drive down costs, expand the Energy Star program that educates consumers about energy-efficient products, and modernize the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s disbursement formula to ensure that hot climate states — like Texas — receive equitable funds to help families with utility costs."

- Supports requiring AI data centers to pay for their own energy infrastructure updates so those "costs aren’t passed on to consumers."
- Wants to "diversify our energy sources to drive down costs, expand the Energy Star program that educates consumers about energy-efficient products, and modernize the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s disbursement formula to ensure that hot climate states — like Texas — receive equitable funds to help families with utility costs."

- The US Senator is a member of the United States Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress. There are a total of 100 US Senators. Texas, like every other US state, has two senators. 
- US Senators have a great deal of power when it comes to bringing the concerns of their state to the national arena. US Senators can author, sponsor, amend, debate, and vote on bills that may become national law. 
- US Senators have an important role in deciding who runs the federal government. They hold confirmation hearings for most presidential appointees, including new Supreme Court Justices and Presidential Cabinet Members.
- Senators can be appointed to committees that focus on particular issues. Examples include the Appropriations Committee, which handles budget planning, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is a diplomatic body that welcomes foreign delegations.
- Senators are elected to six-year terms in statewide elections. US Senators are paid a salary of $174,000/year.