Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico Faces Scrutiny Over LGBTQ Fundraiser and Stance on Transgender Surgeries for Minors

Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico recently held a New York City fundraiser hosted by individuals associated with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a prominent LGBTQ advocacy group that supports gender-affirming care, including surgeries and transition drugs for minors. This event occurred weeks after Talarico stated he would vote for a national ban on gender surgeries for minors if elected to the Senate.

Talarico, a Texas state legislator, told Fox News on September 8 that he opposes gender reassignment surgery for minors and claimed to have been consistent on the issue. He had previously described a Texas bill banning such procedures as "overly broad." The reception on September 29 in Greenwich Village was hosted by Morgan Cox, a member of the HRC's board of directors; Andrew Solomon, who serves on the HRC Foundation Board of Directors; and former U.S. Ambassador to Spain James Costos, who sits on both boards.

The HRC's foundation has published materials indicating that puberty-blocking drugs can be administered to adolescents and that "some trans youth may benefit from gender-affirming surgery, which is rarely an option under the age of 17." The organization also outlines steps in gender transition, including puberty blockers for early to mid-adolescents and cross-sex hormone therapy.

Tickets for Talarico's fundraiser ranged from $1,000 to $13,500. Critics, including the campaign for Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, have accused Talarico of changing his positions based on his audience. Madison Cercy, a spokeswoman for Paxton's campaign, stated, "James Talarico will say anything to get elected; he will change his positions depending on who’s in the room." She further characterized Talarico as a "radical Democrat" who would advance a "radical trans agenda" if elected.

Zach Kraft, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, echoed these criticisms, suggesting Talarico "flip flops" regularly. He pointed to Talarico's voting record in the Texas Legislature, alleging Talarico voted for "taxpayer-funded sex changes for kids of any age" and to allow men in women's sports. Records indicate Talarico voted against a 2023 bill that prohibited gender surgery, puberty blockers, and hormone treatments for minors.

Earlier in his legislative career, Talarico made statements on the Texas House floor suggesting "God is non-binary" and "both masculine and feminine and everything in between." He also repeatedly voted against bills requiring athletes to compete according to their biological sex. During the recent Fox News interview, Talarico addressed these past remarks, stating he was attempting to be "provocative" and was not using human categories to define God.

JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico, defended the candidate's stance, asserting that any suggestion of a change in position is "inaccurate." Ennis stated, "As James has said, he opposes gender reassignment surgery for minors. At the same time, he’ll always stand against discrimination, especially when the most powerful politicians in the country bully students to score political points."

The fundraiser in Greenwich Village followed another New York City event the previous day, hosted by donors and allies of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. That event also raised funds for Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown's Senate campaign and featured actor Robert De Niro. The host committee for that gala included jeweler Alexis Bittar, who has supported Mamdani and a candidate critical of Israel.

The race between Paxton and Talarico is considered a close contest that could influence control of the U.S. Senate following the November midterm elections.