Texas Lawmaker Denies Racially-Charged Allegation, Calls Viral Claim a 'Mischaracterization'
AP Photo/Talia Sprague
A political firestorm erupted in Texas this week after a viral social media video accused a Democratic state representative of making racially insensitive remarks about a former colleague. State Rep. James Talarico has firmly denied the allegations, calling them a "mischaracterization of a private conversation."
The controversy stems from a post by former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who served three terms before his unsuccessful 2024 Senate bid against Republican Ted Cruz. In a video that quickly gained traction, Allred accused Talarico of referring to him as a "mediocre Black man" during a discussion about Talarico's current primary opponent, Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
"Don't come for me unless I send for you," Allred wrote in a caption accompanying the video, where he urged his followers to support Crockett in the primary.
The incident highlights the internal tensions within the Texas Democratic Party as it prepares for a high-stakes election cycle. Talarico and Crockett are locked in a competitive primary for a state Senate seat, while Republicans face their own divisive primary between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
In his response, issued through a spokesperson late Monday, Talarico sought to clarify his remarks. "In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred's method of campaigning as mediocre — but his life and service are not," the statement read. "I would never attack him on the basis of race."
The lawmaker acknowledged the sensitive racial context, stating, "As a Black man in America, Congressman Allred has had to work twice as hard to get where he is. I understand how my critique... could be interpreted given this country's painful legacy of racism."
According to The Texas Tribune, the allegation appears to have originated from a TikTok post by political creator Morgan Thompson, a claim met with skepticism by some commentators. Nonetheless, the video spread rapidly across platforms, receiving amplification from Paxton and other Texas Republicans—a dynamic that underscores how intra-party disputes can be leveraged by political opponents.
As of Tuesday morning, Allred had not publicly responded to Talarico's denial. The episode raises questions about the role of social media in escalating political disagreements and the challenges of navigating racial discourse within party politics.
Voices from the Ground
Michael Rodriguez, Political Science Professor at UT Austin: "This is a classic case of a private political assessment, likely about campaign strategy, being stripped of its context and framed in the most inflammatory way possible. It's damaging because it forces a conversation about race and intent rather than policy."
Lisa Chen, Democratic Strategist in Houston: "Regardless of the specifics, this is a gift to Republicans. It paints Democrats as divided and distracted by internal squabbles while Republicans consolidate. Talarico's response was necessary, but the damage to party unity in a key race is real."
Derrick Wilson, Community Organizer in Dallas: "I'm tired of it. I'm tired of the 'mischaracterization' defense every time a white politician says something problematic about a Black colleague. The impact matters more than the intent. If your 'private' critique reduces a Black man's candidacy to 'mediocre,' you need to do some deep reflection, not just issue a press release."
Sarah Johnson, Voter in San Antonio: "It's hard to know what really happened, but it feels like we're arguing about gossip instead of what these candidates will do for Texas. This back-and-forth makes me less likely to vote in the primary at all."