State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, on Wednesday blasted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for announcing an investigation into whether San Antonio’s North East ISD and other districts facilitated student walkouts to protest White House immigration policies.
“They’re utilizing their First Amendment rights, something we should celebrate, whether it’s students with progressive ideas or students who have conservative ideas,” Talarico said during an Alamo City stop stumping for his U.S. Senate campaign. “We want our students to be curious about the world, to use their voices.”
Paxton, a Republican and diehard ally of President Donald Trump, has filed a flurry of culture war-focused lawsuits in recent weeks as he chases the same U.S. Senate seat as Talarico.
“Instead of applauding those students, our top state leaders are trying to go after them with the power of their public office, and it’s unconscionable,” Talarico continued. “Our students and our educators deserve a lot better in this state.
Talarico’s comments came during a press conference at Rhodes Middle School on San Antonio’s West Side, where he used to teach. The progressive Texas House member is undertaking his statewide Take Back Texas Tour as early voting gets underway.
The press conference was attended by State Reps. Diego Bernal and Josie Garcia, both San Antonio Democrats, some of Talarico’s former students and few loose West Side dogs.
“Every single day when we would walk in, we were greeted by Mr. Talarico with a handshake,” former student Chris Martinez said. “And, as soon as you would walk into the classroom, the first sign you would see was one in big letters that said ‘Freedom Writers, Freedom Thinkers, Freedom Zone.”
Martinez said that message was also present in Talarico’s teaching style.
“There’s a big difference in doing what’s easy and doing what’s right,” Martinez said. “That’s where I believe James and things he told us as a teacher — as a politician — are things that not only he’s been able to say, but also come through with his actions.”
The press conference — at one point interrupted by an unexpected visit by one of Talrico’s former Rhodes teaching colleagues — comes as the Austin Democrat is engaged in a tense and competitive battle with U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, in the Democratic primary for one of the Lone Star State’s U.S. Senate seats.
The winner of that contest is most likely to face either Republican U.S. Rep. John Cornyn or Paxton in the November general election.
The race left politicos and journalists scratching their heads last week after former U.S. Rep. Collin Allred posted a social media video responding to claims made by a little-known social media influencer who said Talarico referred to Allred as a “mediocre black man” during a private conversation.
That allegation came weeks after the conversation between the influencer and Talarico occurred, and Talarico has denied that the discussion was racially charged in any way.
“In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre — but his life and service are not,” Talarico’s team said in a statement. “I would never attack him on the basis of race.”
Even so, Crockett, who’s Black, doubled down on criticism of her primary rival this week, accusing a Talarico-aligned PACs of darkening her skin tone in advertising.
“We’ve all seen the attack ads that have come on behalf of my primary opponent, who supposedly wants to get rid of Super PACs, yet doesn’t have anything to say about the negative ads — the ads that are darkening my skin,” Crockett said.
Talarico responded to those allegations during a Tuesday afternoon press conference in Austin. During those remarks, he explained that it’s against federal law for his campaign to coordinate with outside PACs.
“I’ve said from Day One that I am running a positive race,” Talarico said. “I’m still running a positive race, and I’ll be running a positive race until March 3. Once we’re in a general election, that promise is off the table.”
Early voting for the primary runs now through Feb. 27. Polls will reopen on Election Day, March 3.
Bexar County residents can check their registration status and find more information about polling locations by visiting the County Election Department’s website.
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