Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has drawn criticism after it was revealed that the Dodge Ram truck featured prominently in a viral campaign advertisement does not belong to him. His campaign confirmed that the vehicle used in the ad, titled "Waking Up," was rented and that Talarico's own truck, a Chevy Colorado, was unsuitable for filming due to tinted windows.
The ad showcases Talarico driving the Dodge Ram through Texas while a voiceover discusses economic plans. Conservative critics have accused Talarico of attempting to project a "real Texan" image, while others have pointed out the vehicle switch as a sign of inauthenticity. Political reporter David Weigel noted that the truck's license plate was linked to Enterprise rental.
Talarico's campaign stated that the vehicle swap was a simple production decision. "James’ truck has tinted windows. We tried to shoot in his Chevy first, but it was too dark to film," JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico's campaign, told Fox News Digital.
This incident comes as Talarico faces scrutiny from Republicans seeking to portray him as out of touch with Texas voters. His opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has previously branded Talarico as "too low-T for Texas." Talarico's campaign has pushed back against these criticisms, referencing Paxton's legal troubles and suggesting his preferred vehicle might be "the back of a police car."