I actually really like everything I've seen out of Talarico. Hopefully he can give Christians an off ramp from Christian Nationalism, MAGA and the Republican party.
Really hoping he can turn Texas blue
this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2026
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I’m not Christian myself, but he seems like the good kind. I’ve heard people upset with him for going to seminary school, but I am not someone to judge based off their beliefs; I judge actions. I grew up with a lot of very good Christians, I grew up with a lot of very shitty Christian’s. I learned that is the character of the person that matters, and from all I’ve see of Talerico, he seems on the level.
I would love to see some good Christian examples back. If you actually live by the teachings, at least the ones I grew up with (grew up Lutheran), they can be a positive force. But the mainstream, megachurch, chuddy, nationalist version of it that’s taken over this nation is an affront to nearly everything I was taught it stands for. I’m no longer a believer (probably never was), but I still have many positive associations with my former faith. I still know a lot of “normal” Christian’s who hate what is happening. My possibly naive hope is that Talerico can provide that off ramp for some of the other extremism going on in the religious world.
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I hope that I am wrong about this, but I am not optimistic about Talarico.
He said all the right things to position himself as not just a progressive candidate, but as a christian candidate. White, male, middle aged, handsome, well spoken, seemingly levelheaded, and gives off strong Mr. Rogers vibes. Those things make him comparatively more palatable than most other democratic candidates, especially in Texas.
However, the democrats have had more than a handful of bad actors and turncoats in recent years. Candidates that talk the blue talk and walk the blue walk, but once they take office they quickly turn face. Sinema, Fetterman, Gillibrand, Robin Webb; not an exhaustive list of democrats that turned their backs to the rhetoric and policies that got them elected, but their the ones that spring to my mind first. Schumer, Jeffries, Pelosi, and a host of others could be rightly accused of actively aiding the republican-led undermining of the rule of law (and civil rights) while in office.
The Streisand effect has a long history of backfiring on public officials, so much so that it's not too far of a stretch to wonder if the administration banked on the FCC debacle to elevate Talarico. To be clear, I'm not entirely pessimistic about Talarico; I want to believe that there are still good people who want to get into public service for the right reasons. I'm just not optimistic because he's almost too good. Running a sleeper candidate against one of the stronger progressive voices in congress (who frequently and loudly called out the GOP's bullshit) is exactly the kind of thing that the far-right think tanks would do.
Follow the money. I think Talarico is at least trying to run a small donor funded campaign. Crockett was taking Israel's money and kicking unfavorable media out of her campaign events and denying it afterwards. I don't really believe in the existence of "blue maga" -- I think it's like searching for the "leader" of "antifa" -- but she's one of the closer things I've seen to it.
I mean, Crockett has literally voted for funding Israel. Her average voting record is par with Hakeem Jeffries. She's mean to people I do not like, but she has consistently been a showman. I'll take someone who pledges to not vote for funding genocidal ethnostates over someone who votes for them any day.
Appearances can be deceiving. From what I've read, Talarico seems the more progressive of the two. If he wins, we'll find out--the system is entrenched and hard to buck for anyone, until enough more progressive members are there to form a coalition with some power.
But I have no doubt that no matter what, he'll be vastly better than if the R wins. I'm much more worried about Platner turning out to be a Fetterman/Sinema than I am about Talarico.
However, the democrats have had more than a handful of bad actors and turncoats in recent years.
If you were worried about a turncoat, I'd argue Crockett had much worse vibes. Israeli apologist, surveillance state supporter, pretty cynical in her position on immigration, and deeply self-promotional in a Stacey Abrahams way.
Also, her UAF fixation is... not great.
Talarico has his problems (took a big chunk of cash from the casino industry, for instance). But his politics at least seems more populist.
Idk if that's going to matter. Odds of winning a statewide office in Texas as a Democrat have been dogshit for thirty years.
But if I've got to live with a mushy liberal Dem as a Texas senator, I'm happier with him than the alternative.
texas is the most gerrymandered state , at least one of the most gerrymandered to hell.
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Crockett took Israeli blood money so fuck her.
ITT: neoliberal shits trying hard to drive a false narrative cause they are terrified progressive candidates are coming for them. You should be. We are gonna throw you corporate slaves out.
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It was frustrating to see Jasmine Crockett make the same mistakes as Kamala Harris in her campaign. Lots of “not that guy” and very little “why me”. Not once did I ever hear about Crockett’s policies in this entire election cycle. In contrast, every video of Talarico out there is him spitting bars about the same policies he has been fighting for for years.
Anyway, the battle is still ahead of us.
Crockett is great at the “sick burn” politics. Great for people who subscribe to RawStory for all their news, and I’d have been happy enough to vote for her, but Talarico seems to be more substantive and let’s be honest, a white guy vs black woman in Texas is a bit more of a challenge.
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I love Jasmine Crockett but infuriatingly, a white man that talks frequently about his Christian faith is much more likely to win a senate seat in Texas.
conservatives/or "on the fence" are likely to choose a white man, christian over women any day, if they have to somehow vote for D, they would never do it for the likes harris, and clinton because they are women.
I also like Crockett, but to be fair I haven't seen much about Talerico I don't like beyond his Christianity. To be fair in that regard he at least talks the talk of a genuine Christian, rather than the hate mongering bigotry you normally see.
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Tbf he's Presbyterian, the same church as Mr Rogers, and by this atheist's view, the only genuinely honest Christian sect as a whole. They focus heavily on Christ's teaching on community, believe in the charitable service of others as the devine will of god, and they don't prostilitize or require tithes. That's not to say bad people can't be apart of any faith, but as he's a minister of that church (like Mr Rogers) I'm inclined to think he's honest about those core beliefs and not just riding the good name of the church like other politicians have.
Ultimately none of that really matters. He's on record more progressive than Crockett, and unlike her, did not take AIPAC money. That should be a deal breaker for any voter I don't care what party, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion.
Idk I have to respect the Quakers, even if the only Quakers to be president were remarkably awful (Hoover and Nixon)
Presbyterians, ELCA Lutherans, and United Methodists coalition together. Just FWIW. They have different theologies but very similar approaches to what ultimately matters out in the world: ethics
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AIPAC money and a Harris endorsement appears to have obliterated an 18 point polling lead. That's crazy to think about.
The Colbert fiasco with the FCC trying to silence Talarico really did a number here.
Love that Trump still manages to fuck things up for himself.
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I wrote about this yesterday. Harris and Schumer, and possibly Jefferies, all seem to have the mierdas touch.
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I inherently distrust anyone religious, but it's not really up to me and he seems like a very reasonable pick for Texas. Plus, y'all actually got a real primary! That's rare!
With the comments talking about Crockett taking the same mistakes as Harris, it reminded me of when Harris, a DA at the time, ran for Senate here in CA. We didn't really get serious opposition in that primary, even though the next highest was the house member (?) representing Santa Ana. She... uh... dabbed during a debate. It was a desperate move in a race drowning in money and favoritism for Harris. Harris won the primary by like, 30+ points iirc.
Now things don't look like they can simply be bought as easily like that. People are paying attention and are rightfully pissed off at the DNC, AIPAC and the rest.
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