The Democratic nominee for the Texas Senate, James Talarico, has admitted in a 2024 interview that the United States is “backsliding” on democracy, and has pointed to Western Europe as a model worth emulating. The footage came back into view on social media this week, where it drew notice from Elon Musk, who answered with a single word: “No.”.
On a June 2, 2024, appearance on “The Weekend Show” with Anthony Davis on the MeidasTouch Network, Talarico delivered his comments prior to becoming the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas.
“We haven’t lived up to the promise of democracy,” Talarico said. “And of course, some countries are farther along than others, and sadly, here in America, where that experiment started, we are backsliding.”
“And that troubles me greatly,” he continued. “But all of us still have so much more work to do to create a true democracy.”
He also noted that Americans should draw on how other nations handle things, “especially in Western Europe,” for guidance regarding “how to continue with this experiment and ultimately reach that goal of a true democracy, of a beloved community.”.
The Resurfaced Clip
This week, a post appeared online carrying a recording tied to Talarico’s past statements, which has drawn notice.
The Campaign’s Defense
When asked about the resurfaced remarks, Talarico’s campaign defended the candidate’s comments.
JT Ennis, a spokesperson for the Talarico campaign, said that “James agrees with the majority of Texans that America is the greatest country in the world, Texas is the greatest state in the union, and we should always fight for a more perfect union,”.
How Talarico Got Here
Earlier this year, Talarico rose to national attention after besting Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for the Democratic Party’s U.S. Senate nomination. A former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, he now stands opposite Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the general election.
Throughout the campaign, Republicans have continually pointed to Talarico’s past statements. In response to criticism over his Christianity remark, his campaign said he is a devout Christian who is criticizing what he views as the misuse of Christianity to justify hate, violence and greed.
Talarico’s campaign responded at the time that he believes the flag represents “freedom, opportunity, and hope.”, after the Democratic Senate nominee called the American flag a “complicated symbol.”. In July, the conservative political action committee Lone Star Liberty criticized him as an “America-laster”.
The Remarks in Context
The resurfaced clip is notable for several reasons:
- It comes from a June 2, 2024, interview, well before Talarico secured the Senate nomination.
- Talarico directly described the U.S. as “backsliding” on democracy.
- He pointed to Western Europe as a model for how to move forward.
The Reaction Online
This week, a video drew notice online, and among those who commented was Musk, who posted “No” in reply.
Key Positions in the Race
- Talarico faces Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, in the general election.
- Talarico defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for the Democratic Party’s Senate nomination.
- The Lone Star Liberty PAC called Talarico an “America-laster” over his flag comment.
The Campaign’s Message
The contrast between Talarico’s remarks and his campaign’s defense is stark. Talarico said the U.S. is moving backward on democracy. The campaign says he agrees America is the greatest country in the world.
The argument here is not over the facts themselves. The dispute concerns how to discuss them.
What This Means for the Race
It seems Talarico’s remarks will not vanish from the conversation. Already, Republicans have cited his prior statements against him, and this latest clip adds a fresh piece for them to use. Now the real test is whether the campaign can distance itself from the “backsliding” remark without turning off supporters who share that view.
The campaign’s response suggests it wants to keep the focus on patriotism. Whether that strategy holds depends on how voters weigh Talarico’s words against his opponents’ attacks.
The contest still runs close. A fresh survey matched Talarico against Paxton, posing a threat to a GOP hold in a state where Democrats seldom carry Senate seats.
This excerpt serves as a reminder that political campaigns rest upon what candidates actually say. Talarico said it. The campaign defended it. Ultimately, voters must determine which version of the candidate they trust.
Who is protecting what
The paper suspects the campaign is protecting Talarico’s electability by steering the conversation toward patriotism rather than the substance of his earlier remarks. The campaign’s defense, which praises America while acknowledging Talarico’s criticisms, is a calculated attempt to defuse a potentially damaging clip without repudiating it outright.
Republicans, meanwhile, are protecting their attack narrative. They have repeatedly cited Talarico’s past statements to paint him as an opponent of American exceptionalism. This latest clip gives them another arrow for the coming months.
The Lone Star Liberty PAC’s “America-laster” label was aimed at the same target. It was a way to tie Talarico to criticism of American symbols without having to engage with his actual policy positions.
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