Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico made a meaty point June 2, 2026 in Dallas, chomping down on false accusations by President Donald Trump and Attorney General Ken Paxton that he is vegan.
“Ken Paxton is lying about what I eat,” Talarico said at a news conference outside Smokey Joe’s BBQ in Dallas’ Red Bird neighborhood.
To prove he’s a carnivore, Talarico stopped at the small restaurant on the edge of Interstate 35E and took bites from a generous tray of brisket, ribs and boudin.
The standout, he said, were brakes. What’re those?
Smokey Joe’s brakes are rib “nuggets,” owner Kris Manning told The Dallas Morning News. He compared them to a more affordable version of brisket burnt ends.
“Most people throw it away,” he said.
Each pork morsel is tossed in jerk seasoning and cooked low and slow for three to four hours. Brakes are finished with a squeeze of lemon for tanginess. Customers can order them in a basket with fries for $18.50.
The Texas Trinity platter at Smokey Joe’s BBQ comes with brisket, ribs, jalapeño cheddar sausage and sides. (Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer)
Talarico, a state representative from Austin, had never tried brakes before. They aren’t available at many Dallas-Fort Worth barbecue joints.
Manning said brakes are “a Southern Dallas thing.” (Talarico called them “delicious.”)
Talarico ate the late barbecue lunch while drawing attention to rising food costs he says are squeezing Texas families and restaurants. He called the GOP vegan jabs “fun” but said he came to talk about “larger issues.”
“He’s going to lie about what I eat,” Talarico said of Paxton, his Republican Senate rival. “I’m going to focus on making sure Texans can afford to eat.”
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, center, speaks during a campaign event at Smokey Joe’s BBQ, with state Sen. Royce West, left, and Kris Manning, owner of Smokey Joe’s BBQ. (Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News)
Talarico couldn’t resist another joke about it.
“With rising prices of beef,” he said, “we might all need to be vegans someday.”
Subscribe