By Hayley Mireles<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Friday morning at St. David\u2019s Baptist Church, James Talarico sat down with the Texas Tribune editor-in-chief, Matthew Watkins. The Texas Democrat detailed why he chose to run for the Senate, his feelings about Democratic Senate members’ previous actions during the government shutdown, and his thoughts on the future release of the Epstein files. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talarico announced in September that he would join the race for a spot in the Senate in hopes of replacing Republican Senator John Cornyn. When asked why he chose to lead a campaign in the Senate race, he stated, \u201cI really think of these positions as jobs, you\u2019re applying to a job.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He went on to say, \u201cThe skills that I developed in the trenches of the Texas legislature, working across the aisle to pass legislation, questioning witnesses to get to the truth, debating on the house floor with my colleagues, those skills in my mind are much more transferable to a U.S. Senate seat.\u201d Talarico has been serving in the Texas House of Representatives since 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talarico uses his faith as a rationale for his decision to run for public office, differentiating himself from other Democratic Party members and offering a new perspective on religion in politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy faith calls on me to fight for all of my neighbors,\u201d he expressed when questioned about how his religion guides his political decisions. \u201cLoving our neighbors is how we show our love for God, and that\u2019s what led me into public service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was also asked about the government shutdown, which lasted a total of 43 days, and was seen by many democrats as an opportunity to combat republicans efforts to take away health care benefits from millions of Americans. The House of Representatives approved the new bill, voting 222 to 209, with 7 democrats voting to end the shutdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talarico stated that he was \u201cfrustrated, [that] a handful of Senate democrats caved to D.C. republicans. Any deal that kicks 1.7 million Texans off their healthcare isn\u2019t compromise, it\u2019s surrender.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, he specified that all the democrats who voted yes were from blue states, claiming that red state democrats, like himself, know how to hold the line and would benefit the legislature by not backing down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe only path forward is for red state democrats to remake [the Democratic] party at the national level in our own image because we desperately need fighters, not folders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked about the Epstein Files being released, which has been in the public interest since his arrest in 2019, Talarico questioned when topics of pedophilia and sex trafficking became a part of bipartisan issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stood firm on his belief that \u201cThe American people deserve to know the whole truth about Jeffery Epstein and every single powerful person who enabled him.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talarico went as far as stating that \u201cif there is a democrat on that list [he\u2019d] be the first to call for their prosecution,\u201d he continued to call for their release and urged that Americans are owed all the information related to Epstein. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talarico ended his one-on-one session with Watkins by answering a few audience questions. One audience member questioned his thoughts on new leadership in the House and Senate among Democrats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI absolutely believe that we should welcome a new generation of leaders in the democratic party,\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He went on to call for \u201cnew blood in [the democratic] party,\u201d and hopes to keep room open for young leaders in politics at the national level. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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