In the American Dream City, U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico detailed his four-part plan to build a “new American Dream” surrounding economy, families, energy and technology.
The Democrat’s half-hour speech Wednesday evening was filled with ideas for putting Texans back on their feet after what Talarico described as a billionaires’ rigged economy that has kicked working-class people down. Over a thousand people were in the Esports Stadium Arlington to hear from the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. He faces Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in November.
“We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis,” Talarico said. “We’re getting screwed. Whether you’re a little more conservative or a little more progressive, we’re all getting screwed.”
People wave American flags during James Talarico’s The New American Dream Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at Esports Stadium in Arlington. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
To right the system, Talarico proposes to overthrow trickle-down economics, which he said only lets the rich grow richer on the backs of everyone else.
His economic plan? Raise the minimum wage, expand overtime pay, get rid of tax breaks for the top 1%, create a cost of living tax cut, give small businesses a tax cut and rebuild labor unions. He also wants to cancel medical debt, cap credit card interest rates and create an education investment resembling the GI Bill.
Talarico said he aims to close the national deficit saying, “we can do it by closing tax loopholes, cracking down on tax cheats and ending forever wars that send billions of our tax dollars overseas.”
On the topic of helping families, Talarico compared himself to former President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas Democrat who also got his start teaching and won the same seat Talarico is running for.
James Talarico, Texas’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, kicks off The New American Dream Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at Esports Stadium in Arlington. Talarico will travel to 10 more cities on the tour to talk about his plan for the economy. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“In office, LBJ made the largest federal investment in America’s children and families this country has ever seen,” Talarico said, adding that he wants to do the very same.
To give the next generation a better future, the Democrat wants to pour money into public schools, provide universal child care and paid family leave, and protect Medicare and Social Security.
Talarico said he would provide a tax cut to first-time homebuyers and perpetuate and expand the child tax credit, similar to his opposing candidate Ken Paxton.
On the energy front, Talarico said he doesn’t want to “play politics” in Texas’s energy sector but will leverage the state’s expertise to lead renewables like solar and wind.
Talarico aims to crack down on data centers and establish an artificial intelligence dividend so working class people will have a share in the booming industry. At the same time, he wants to create grants for supporting human creativity and innovation.
“The people at the top are scared of this New American Dream. Scared of a room of Texans coming together across race and gender and age and party to dream bigger,” Talarico said.
Cheryl Torress of Euless holds a sign in support of James Talarico, Texas’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, during The New American Dream Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at Esports Stadium in Arlington. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Ahead of Talarico coming to the stage, two local Democrats, a Tarrant County Republican and Arlington’s independent mayor took to the microphone and voiced their support.
Democrats Congressman Marc Veasey and Tarrant district attorney candidate Tiffany Burks focused on the need to vote up and down the ballot.
“There is a slate of candidates that are ready and waiting to serve you,” Burks said. “When you go to the polls, make sure that you don’t stop at the top. You go all the way down the ballot. Make no mistake. When you all wake up that morning, we are going to have a different Tarrant County.”
James Talarico, Texas’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, kicks off The New American Dream Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at Esports Stadium in Arlington. Talarico will travel to 10 more cities on the tour to talk about his plan for the economy. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Retired County Judge Glen Whitley, the Republican replaced by conservative Tim O’Hare, said he supports Talarico over Paxton because he trusts the Democrat will work across the aisle to benefit Texans.
“I have always voted for the best candidate. I did not look at what party they had beside their name,” Whitley said. “What I’m going to have to tell you right now, as a Texan, I am ashamed of the fact that Ken Paxton is even on the ballot.”
Ross, an independent, said a better future is on the horizon with Talarico because he leads with love instead of hate.
“Nobody else can bring all these parties together like James Talarico,” Ross said.
This story was originally published August 5, 2026 at 11:05 PM.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Rachel Royster is a news and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, specifically focused on Tarrant County. She joined the newsroom after interning at the Austin American-Statesman, the Waco Tribune-Herald and Capital Community News in DC. A Houston native and Baylor grad, Rachel enjoys traveling, reading and being outside. She welcomes any and all news tips to her email.