James Talarico campaigns in Corpus Christi during Texas U.S. Senate primary

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico held a town hall in Corpus Christi, discussing energy jobs, prison reform and trade policy.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico brought his campaign to the Coastal Bend on Monday, holding a town hall in downtown Corpus Christi and taking questions on energy, criminal justice reform, agriculture and foreign policy.

Speaking with 3NEWS after the event, Talarico rejected the idea that Texas must choose between environmental protection and high-paying energy jobs.

“There’s folks in our politics who say we have to choose between good-paying energy jobs and protecting our natural resources — that’s a false choice,” Talarico said. “We can add to all of the great oil and gas jobs that we have across South Texas with new jobs in wind and solar and batteries and geothermal.”

Talarico said expanding into emerging energy sectors would allow Texas to remain a national leader while addressing climate concerns. 

“That’s how we keep Texas as an energy leader in the 21st century, just like we were in the 20th,” he said.

Asked why he believes he can win statewide office as a Democrat, Talarico pointed to his past electoral record. “I have a history of flipping Trump seats,” he said, citing a win in traditionally Republican Williamson County. “Now we’re doing it at a statewide level. We’re bringing people together across the political spectrum to end one-party rule in this state.”

On criminal justice reform, Talarico called for federal action to address conditions inside Texas prisons, including the lack of air conditioning in many facilities. 

“Having a justice system doesn’t mean we should have cruel and unusual punishment in this country,” he said. “I absolutely think there’s a federal role here.”

Talarico also criticized trade policies he said have harmed Texas farmers and ranchers. 

“We need a U.S. senator who’s going to have the backs of Texas farmers and ranchers,” he said. “Not crazy tariffs that hurt our industries.”

The candidate weighed in on protests at immigration detention facilities and rising tensions around detention centers, saying Texans should continue speaking out. 

“I think we need more Texans stepping up to protest these abuses,” Talarico said. “That’s what we’re called to do as Texans.”

During the interview, Talarico also addressed questions about foreign policy, criticizing what he described as misplaced priorities. 

“We don’t want Greenland. We want healthcare,” he said. “We want lower costs at the grocery store.”

Faith has been a prominent theme in Talarico’s campaign, and he said his focus is on what he views as consistency between belief and action. 

“My concern is the members of Congress who are quoting scripture and then violating the teachings of Jesus every day,” he said. “We need more legislators who are going to act like Jesus, whether they’re Christians or not.”

Talarico said strong turnout at the Corpus Christi town hall was one of the most notable moments of the stop. 

“I was not anticipating this many people to show up here on a cold evening on a weekday,” he said. “The place was packed, and I think it shows the kind of energy that’s building all over the state.”

Talarico is running in the Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who visited Corpus Christi earlier this month as part of her own campaign.