James Talarico Keeps Denying The Vegan Label. Video Suggests Otherwise.

Understandably, Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico is working overtime to try to deny any “vegan” label as he runs for office in Texas. However, a resurfaced video of the Democrat bragging about his all-vegan campaign is throwing a wrench in that mission. 

Talarico, while running for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives in 2022, suggested eating meat was morally wrong, in part because of the “existential” threat of climate change. That’s why, he boasted, that his campaign was going completely “non-meat” and ordering from vegan restaurants. 

“Not just because it’s the right thing to do, and the moral thing to do, but also, as all of you know, it’s necessary to fight climate change,” Talarico says in the video. “It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption and that we try to respect animals in all aspects of society.” 

“I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign,” he announced. “We are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses.”

“The point is, all of us, not just policymakers, but everyone has to take personal responsibility in this effort,” he added. 

James Talarico: “I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign. We are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses.” #TXsenpic.twitter.com/SkZZ05IXMj

— Lone Star Liberty PAC (@LoneStar_PAC) May 27, 2026

Republicans have made fun of Talarico for being a vegan in Texas, where barbecue is part of the culture. Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running against Talarico for the Senate seat, has called him “Tofu Talarico.” And President Donald Trump recently quipped, “You can’t get elected as a vegan in Texas.” 

In the wake of the criticism, Democrats and Talarico himself have been denying any association with veganism. On Wednesday, the official X account for the Democratic National Committee posted a photo of Talarico eating barbecue.

November, here we come. pic.twitter.com/ux1w1WzGNO

— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) May 27, 2026

And earlier this week, the Democrat said he’s “been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton’s first indictment.”

Criticism of Talarico doesn’t stop at his diet. Christians have called out the Democrat for his strong, supposedly Bible-backed abortion-on-demand push. Talarico is also a strong supporter of “trans kids,” backing highly controversial and often irreversible trans surgeries for minors.

Related: How James Talarico Is Trying To Rewrite The Bible On Abortion