Talarico Pitches Populist 'New American Dream' in Pasadena, Targeting Paxton and Billionaire Donors

State Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, spoke to a packed auditorium at San Jacinto College's Pasadena campus on Sunday evening, using the event to continue rolling out his newly announced economic agenda, which he calls "the New American Dream."

Much of the speech centered on affordability. "The American dream has become an American nightmare," Talarico told the audience, arguing that buying a home, marrying and raising children, and retiring comfortably have all become too expensive. "People are working hard. They're playing by the rules, but those rules of today weren't written for us. They were written for billionaires."

His proposals include raising the minimum wage, rolling back tax breaks for the wealthy in favor of relief for the middle class and small businesses, and rebuilding the strength of labor unions. Citing what he described as record household debt, he also called for canceling medical debts and capping credit card interest rates.

Talarico repeatedly attacked billionaires and linked them to his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton. Anyone struggling to pay for groceries, gas, housing, child care or prescription drugs, he said, is not lazy and has not made bad choices. "It is because the system has been rigged against you by billionaire megadonors and corrupt politicians like Ken Paxton," he said.

Paxton campaigned in Houston last week, where he outlined an economic plan largely built around tax cuts. He accused Talarico of backing higher taxes. "My opponent voted for a state income tax," Paxton said, adding that he believed Talarico "voted for every possible tax increase, including a new death tax, which we never had in Texas." Talarico did not vote for a state income tax or an estate tax, though he did oppose constitutional amendments that would permanently bar the state from adopting such taxes.

The speech came two days after a fourth consecutive poll showed Talarico ahead. A survey by Texas Pulse and Texas A&M University's Bush School put him at 47% to Paxton's 43%. It also found 87% of Black voters would back Talarico if the election were held now, compared with 2% for Paxton. A Texas Southern University poll released last week showed him leading among Black voters 79% to 12%.

A second TSU survey, also released last week, adds nuance to those numbers. It found that 71% of Black Texas voters view Talarico favorably, yet 77% agree that the Democratic Party in Texas takes Black voters for granted.

Talarico has publicly acknowledged that concern and pledged $25 million for Black voter outreach. His campaign says the money is going toward hiring Black staff and consultants statewide, paid advertising produced by Black-owned media firms, investments in local Black media, and partnerships with Black churches, community organizations and historically Black colleges and universities.

Speaking in July at a town hall at Houston's Kingdom Builders' Center, Talarico said the Democratic Party has too often assumed Black voters will automatically back its candidates. "The fastest way to lose an election is to take any voter or any community for granted," he said. "We're not going to make that mistake in this race."