Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters launched a blistering attack on Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico on Wednesday, accusing him of embracing far-left social positions that are out of step with Texas voters.
During an appearance on Newsmax’s Wake Up America, Gruters repeatedly mocked Talarico, branding him “Talafreako” and portraying the state lawmaker as the latest example of a Democratic Party increasingly disconnected from mainstream voters.
Asked how Republicans plan to keep Texas in GOP hands heading into the Senate race, Gruters offered a blunt answer.
“We keep it red because Talarico is a creep,” Gruters said. “He’s a vegan. He thinks God is non-binary, he wants to mutilate children. He wants to put boys in girls locker rooms. People are done with that.”
The comments came one day after Gruters used the same “Talafreako” nickname during a Fox News appearance, borrowing a tactic often employed by President Donald Trump against political opponents.
Newsmax aired clips of Talarico discussing gender and religion, including remarks in which the Democratic candidate said, “God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non-binary. Trans children are God’s children, made in God’s own image.”
The broadcast also highlighted previous comments from Talarico discussing biological sex and gender identity.
Following the segment, Newsmax co-host Marc Lotter joked that the footage looked like a ready-made Republican campaign advertisement.
“You might as well put just a little disclaimer there, ‘Paid for by the Republican National Committee,’” Lotter quipped.
Gruters argued that Talarico’s positions would be more at home in states like California than Texas.
“Talafreako seems better suited to represent one of the super woke left-wing states,” Gruters said.
Talarico, a Democratic state representative and former public school teacher, has become one of the party’s rising stars in Texas, attracting national attention for his outspoken progressive views and viral social media presence.
While Talarico has denied claims that he is a vegan, he has publicly supported access to transgender medical intervention for minors.
The debate over transgender issues has increasingly emerged as one of the GOP’s most effective political weapons, particularly in conservative-leaning states where voters have shown skepticism toward policies involving youth gender transitions, transgender participation in sports and changing definitions of sex and gender.
Gruters also tied Talarico to the Democratic National Committee’s recently released post-2024 election autopsy, which acknowledged that many voters feel disconnected from the party’s messaging and priorities.
The comments come just one day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a decisive victory over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary.
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