During his recent visit to El Paso, state Rep. James Talarico made a stop at El Paso’s iconic L&J Cafe. The Mexican restaurant at 3622 E Missouri Ave. is a hot spot for celebrities passing through the city.

Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas, held a news conference outside East Camp Montana, an ICE detention center, during a visit as part of his “Take Back Texas” tour, in El Paso, Feb. 21.

L&J Cafe ownership were excited to have Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat, stop by Feb. 21 as part of his visit to El Paso.

L&J Cafe ownership were excited to have Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat, stop by Feb. 21 as part of his visit to El Paso.

The restaurant’s ownership posted a photo of Talarico with owner Leo Duran and others on the restaurant’s Facebook page, along with a thank-you message.

“Late post but better late than never! We appreciate Rep. James Talarico stopping by yesterday to grab a bite and say hello to our guests. We’re always grateful for leaders who take time to connect with the community. We hope you enjoyed your stay in the Sun City,” the post stated.

What is James Talarico running for?

Talarico is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas in the 2026 election.

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María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: James Talarico, Texas Senate candidate, visits El Paso’s L&J Cafe