FLASHBACK: Where James Talarico Stands On Election Security

In a recently resurfaced clip, Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico said he opposes voter ID and claimed it is unnecessary. 

In a primetime Fox News appearance with Pete Hegseth in July 2021, Talarico argued that “Texas is one of the hardest places to vote in the whole country” for simply requiring a photo ID to verify your identity prior to casting an in-person ballot. Voters only have to present one of seven acceptable forms of identification.

Talarico in 2021: “I oppose voter ID.”

Add it to the ever-growing list. pic.twitter.com/bXeoxM1kYD

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) May 28, 2026

Talarico and Hegseth debated SB 1, Texas’s voter ID requirement for mail-in ballots, which was subsequently signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on September 7 of that same year. Hegseth pointed out that Texas already allowed 12-13 days of early voting, and that SB 1 expanded early voting hours as well.

Talarico also recently slammed Texas’ voter laws, saying, “I will say that we already have a lot of voter suppression in Texas. It’s baked into our laws. I’ve fought fiercely against many of those laws when they were coming through the legislature. And Texas is one of the hardest places to vote in the country as a result. It’s why we see such low voter turnout in our state compared to other states.”

When applying for and returning a mail-in ballot under SB 1 provisions, Texans simply have to provide the last four digits of their Social Security number, which is assigned to almost every American citizen at birth at no cost.

According to the Center for Democracy & Civic Engagement, 99% of Texans have at least one of the seven forms of photo identification required to vote. In states like California, voter ID laws are extremely lax, and people do not need to show any form of physical ID to register to vote. In some states, people only have to provide a name and address along with a signature approved by the poll worker. 

If elected to the Senate, Talarico would likely become another lawmaker opposed to federal voter ID legislation such as the SAVE Act, which passed the House but is pending in the Senate. The 2026 Texas Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most consequential national races in determining the direction of the United States regarding voter integrity.