AUSTIN, Texas — Texas girls deserve a fair opportunity to compete, earn scholarships and establish themselves as athletes.
That principle should transcend politics.
But James Talarico’s record on transgender participation in school sports raises questions that Texas voters deserve answered.
While serving in the Texas House, Talarico opposed Republican legislation that would have restricted transgender student-athletes from competing on teams corresponding to their gender identity.
In 2021, he argued that some things were more important than perfectly fair competition in sports. He also compared arguments supporting restrictions to historical arguments used to exclude Black athletes.
Those comments deserve scrutiny from parents, coaches and female athletes who believe competitive fairness must be protected.
Now, as a U.S. Senate candidate, Talarico has changed his messaging.
In September 2026, he told Fox News that he opposes transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports when safety or fairness is endangered.
That is a significant shift from his earlier rhetoric.
Talarico now says the bills he opposed were overly broad and that local communities should have greater authority over eligibility decisions.
But Texas voters should ask why he did not support the restrictions when he had the opportunity to do so.
Girls’ sports should not become a political bargaining chip.
Texas deserves consistent leadership that takes female athletes seriously before election season, not just during it.
