Texas Senate Candidate Talarico Says U.S. Is 'Backsliding' on Democracy

Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico stated in a resurfaced interview from June 2, 2024, that the United States is "backsliding" on democracy and suggested Americans should seek inspiration from countries in Western Europe.

Talarico made these remarks on the MeidasTouch Network's "The Weekend Show" before securing the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Texas. "We haven't lived up to the promise of democracy," Talarico said. "And of course, some countries are farther along than others, and sadly, here in America, where that experiment started, we are backsliding."

He added, "And that troubles me greatly. But all of us still have so much more work to do to create a true democracy." Talarico also suggested looking to Western Europe for guidance on "how to continue with this experiment and ultimately reach that goal of a true democracy, of a beloved community."

The clip recently gained traction on social media, prompting a brief response of "No" from Elon Musk. The Talarico campaign defended the candidate's statements, with spokesperson JT Ennis telling Fox News Digital, "James agrees with the majority of Texans that America is the greatest country in the world, Texas is the greatest state in the union, and we should always fight for a more perfect union."

Talarico, a former teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, in the Democratic primary. He is now set to face Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the general election. A recent poll indicated Talarico is tied with Paxton in the race, which could threaten the Republican stronghold in Texas.

Republicans have frequently pointed to Talarico's past comments throughout the campaign, including remarks where he stated he considers himself a Christian who "hates Christianity," that "God is nonbinary," and that there are six biological sexes. His campaign has previously clarified that Talarico is a devout Christian criticizing the misuse of Christianity to justify hate, violence, and greed. In July, a conservative political action committee criticized Talarico for calling the American flag a "complicated symbol," to which his campaign responded that he believes the flag represents "freedom, opportunity, and hope."