Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was filmed naming his favorite drag queen within a second at a campaign event, and Republicans wasted no time turning the moment into a full-blown attack. The video has gone viral, and the GOP is now using the word “drag” itself to hit back at the Democratic candidate.
The Quick Response
Talarico, a longtime defender of Texas drag performers, was asked by a man at a campaign event to name his favorite drag queen. His answer came fast: “Oh my gosh, probably Alyssa Edwards.”
The clip was shared by the Republican National Committee’s RNC Research X account on Monday, and it spread quickly across social media. Within hours, Republicans were treating the response as evidence of something far beyond a simple fandom.
Paxton’s Side-Eye
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Talarico’s opponent in the Senate race, weighed in with a tweet suggesting the quick answer showed Talarico is “too weird and too radical for Texas.”
“What normal person can name their favorite drag queen this quickly?” Paxton tweeted. He also pointed to a 2023 quote from Talarico arguing that Texas produces “some of the best drag queens in the nation.”
Paxton added that when Talarico “isn’t advocating for children to dress in drag, he’s watching drag performances and saying that Texas produces the best drag queens.”
Vance’s Meme
Vice President JD Vance took a different approach. He shared an image of the knowing, side-eye glance he gave the television audience during his 2024 vice presidential debate against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. That look has since become a popular meme.
The move was clearly meant to cast Talarico as someone who cannot control his own mouth. By comparison, Vance presented himself as the steady, controlled one.
Miller’s Nickname
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller used the nickname President Trump has recently deployed to disparage Talarico. In an X post slamming the Texas Democrat, Miller wrote: “Talafreako is a deeply sick and disturbed individual.”
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) also weighed in on X, mocking the speed of Talarico’s answer. “It’s completely bizarre for any ‘man’ to be able to instantly name their ‘favorite drag queen’ let alone the name of any drag queen at all,” Gill argued.
Edwards Responds
The woman at the center of the controversy had her own take. Alyssa Edwards, the drag queen Talarico named, thanked the Senate hopeful for his support.
“Your favorite politician’s favorite Drag Queen,” Edwards posted on X. She added: “Thank you [James Talarico] for recognizing that the arts have a purpose and a home right here in the Lone Star State. Matthew 7:1 #ProudTexan”
What Happens Next
Talarico’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment. The contest over which reading of the moment is correct has already begun.
The GOP has framed the moment as a weakness, while Talarico’s own supporters have framed it as proof that he is comfortable with his own identity.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Campaign question | Man asks Talarico to name his favorite drag queen |
| Answer time | Within a second |
| Video shared | RNC Research X account on Monday |
| Paxton’s tweet | “What normal person can name their favorite drag queen this quickly?” |
| Miller’s nickname | “Talafreako” |
The irony of the situation is hard to miss. Republicans are attacking a candidate who has long praised Texas drag performers, using a word that describes precisely the kind of entertainment he defends. And the person he named thanked him for it.
Who is protecting what
The paper suspects the Republican National Committee’s Research X account shared the video because it wanted a national platform to turn a simple campaign moment into a political weapon. Ask yourself why: what does the GOP gain from making Talarico’s fandom a national issue?
Paxton’s tweet and Gill’s mockery protect the Republican line that Talarico is “too weird and too radical for Texas.” They want voters to see Talarico as a danger rather than a supporter of the arts.
Vance’s meme use protects his image as the steady one next to a candidate who cannot control his mouth. He is positioning himself as the clear choice in contrast to Talarico’s perceived lack of control.
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