Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico is facing backlash after comments he made earlier this year praising Texas drag queens as "some of the best" in the country have resurfaced.
Talarico, the Democratic nominee in the hotly contested Senate race, made the comment in May 2023 while criticizing a bill that would have restricted some drag shows. He voted "present" on the legislation after language referencing drag performers was removed from an earlier version, arguing that the revised bill would better protect their performances.
Talarico's comments sparked criticism from Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, who accused him of holding "out-of-touch, extreme views" that are "out of step with the people of Texas." The Republican National Committee also weighed in, with a spokesman calling Talarico's views on drag performers "creepy" and urging him to "stay away from kids."
The controversy comes as Talarico is locked in a dead heat with Paxton just months ahead of the November midterm elections. A recent poll found that both candidates are tied, with 47% of the vote among likely voters in Texas. The poll also found that half of respondents view Paxton as too extreme, but a majority of voters believe Talarico has good character and morals.
However, the poll also indicated that Talarico may struggle to overcome the Democratic Party's toxic brand in Texas, with a majority of respondents viewing the party as too far to the left.
The issue of drag shows has been a contentious one in Texas, with the state legislature passing a law regulating them in 2023. The law, which was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, allows businesses to face fines for hosting prohibited performances and drag performers to be subject to criminal penalties.
The law has been the subject of ongoing legal challenges from LGBTQ organizations, who argue that it violates their First Amendment rights. A federal appeals court allowed the law to go into effect in February, but the case continues to be litigated.
