Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico promised to “beat the billionaires and take back Texas” at a Saturday rally in San Antonio.
Talarico spoke to hundreds of cheering supporters at 1902 Nightclub in St. Paul’s Square Saturday afternoon as part of his “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” tour.
Actress Eva Longoria introduced Talarico.
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“This country will not get better without Texas’ involvement,” Longoria said. “People don’t win because they outspent. People win because they outwork, and we’re going to outwork them.”
Talarico repeatedly attacked his opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, for accepting funding from Elon Musk and other “corrupt billionaires” while promising to return the senate seat to Texans.
Talarico, a member of the Texas House of Representatives and a former San Antonio Independent School district middle school teacher, is running against Paxton, the Republican nominee, for the seat held by Sen. John Cornyn.
No Democrat has been elected to a statewide office in Texas since 1994. The race is tight, with Talarico holding a slight lead over Paxton in a recent poll by Texas Public Opinion Research.
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James Talarico shakes hands with supporters during a campaign rally Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1902 Nightclub in San Antonio.
Ethan E. Rocke/For the Express-News
James Talarico supporters cheer for their candidate at a campaign rally Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1902 Nightclub in San Antonio.
Ethan E. Rocke/For the Express-News
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Talarico described traveling to “every corner” of Texas to meet with “residents who are drowning.” They included a grandmother and grandson in Houston facing eviction and a small business owner in Port Arthur who has to raise prices every six months to keep up with inflation.
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“We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis,” he said. “We are running against the embodiment of this corrupt system. We are running against the most corrupt politician in Texas.”
Supporters packed the club, crowding up the stairs and lining the balcony above the stage. They cheered and held up “Talarico for Texas” and “Talafreako” signs.
Talarico repeatedly pointed to the support Paxton has received from Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest billionaire, who lives near the SpaceX Starbase facility in South Texas. September campaign finance reports revealed that Musk poured $190 million into the Senate Leadership Fund, the Senate GOP’s main super PAC and the biggest spender in the Texas Senate race.
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“Ken Paxton is funded by one dude. Elon Musk wants our land. He wants our water. He wants his very own personal Senator,” Talarico said. “On Nov. 3, we are going to deliver a crystal clear message: Texas is not for sale.”
The crowd erupted in boos at the mention of Musk.
James Talarico speaks to supporters at a campaign rally Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1902 Nightclub in San Antonio.
Ethan E. Rocke/For the Express-News
Eva Longoria speaks at a rally for U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1902 Nightclub in San Antonio.
Ethan E. Rocke/For the Express-News
James Talarico supporters listen to their candidate at a campaign rally Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1902 Nightclub in San Antonio.
Ethan E. Rocke/For the Express-News
Throughout the rally, Talarico also evoked “Friday Night Lights,” the beloved 2006 NBC high school football drama set in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas. “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” is a reference to the show’s famous rallying cry.
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He quoted the show’s Coach Eric Taylor, who told his players before their first game: “They’re going to come at you with everything they’ve got. I expect you boys to execute. I expect you boys to play football.”
“The Dillon Panthers won that game despite being the underdog. San Antonio, we are the underdogs in this race,” he said. “We have to execute. We have to leave it all on the field. We have to win.”
Talarico was joined at the rally by other local Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, Texas House District 125 candidate Adrian Reyna, 35th Congressional District candidate Johnny Garcia, and former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who is running for Bexar County Judge.
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Talarico ended the rally with another callback to “Friday Night Lights.”
“It’s time for us to start flipping over some tables,” he said. “Because as every Texan knows: Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”
James Talarico speaks to supporters at a campaign rally Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1902 Nightclub in San Antonio.
Ethan E. Rocke/For the Express-News
Ron Nirenberg speaks at a rally for James Talarico Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1902 Nightclub in San Antonio. Talarico is a Democrat running for U.S. Senate against Republican Ken Paxton.
Ethan E. Rocke/For the Express-News
James Talarico supporters rally for their candidate at a campaign rally Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1902 Nightclub in San Antonio.
Ethan E. Rocke/For the Express-News