James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, has indicated a willingness to work with former President Donald Trump, stating he would like to help fulfill some of the promises associated with the "MAGA" political movement. Talarico, who is running against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, made these remarks during an appearance on the "The Diary of a CEO" podcast.
Talarico expressed that the promise of MAGA was to transform the government to serve those who have been "left behind" and "forgotten." He suggested that there is still an opportunity to achieve this goal and specifically mentioned healthcare and housing as areas where he would be open to collaboration with Trump. "If the president wants to work with me or with any Democrat to expand healthcare access, I'm there," Talarico said. "If he wants to make sure that every single kid in this country gets high-quality, accessible childcare, I'm there. If he wants to tackle the housing problem — Donald Trump is a builder — if he wants us to slash the red tape in this country so we could build millions of new homes and ensure everyone in this country has a place to call home, that I'm there. I'll work with him to do it."
Talarico also suggested that a successful midterm election for Democrats could serve as a "rebirth" for Trump's presidency, provided that elected leaders hold the president accountable. He further hoped that a Democratic victory could act as a "wake-up call" for Trump's administration, encouraging them to "reverse course."
These overtures come despite Trump's repeated criticism of Talarico, who he has referred to as "TalaFREAKo" on Truth Social and called "unelectable" in Texas. Trump has also actively campaigned for Paxton.
Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt voiced skepticism regarding Talarico's intentions on "FOX & Friends," calling them "disingenuous." Leavitt asserted that Democrats often moderate their messaging to win elections, only to govern as "far left extreme liberals." She cited past statements attributed to Talarico regarding his views on Christianity, gender, and border policy, suggesting he would not work with Trump on securing the border or deporting undocumented immigrants.