Texas – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is taking aim at Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico after the Texas lawmaker walked back a 2021 statement about biological gender, accusing him of changing his position and arguing that he is not fit to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.
“Jimmy Talarico ‘missed the mark’ with more than just his words, he missed the mark with his votes,” Abbott said in a post. “He was either lying about what he believed when he said there are six genders, or he is lying about what he believes now. Six Gender Jimmy is not fit to represent Texas in the United States Senate.”
Abbott’s comments came after Talarico addressed his controversial 2021 remarks during an interview with Fox News correspondent Brooke Taylor as Republicans gathered in Dallas for their midterm convention.
Talarico was asked about a statement he made in 2021 during a Texas House committee hearing in which he said there were six biological sexes. During the recent interview, he acknowledged that some of his previous statements were incorrect and said he had “missed the mark” with some of his past comments. Fox News reported that Talarico also walked back several other controversial positions during the interview.
“There are not six genders. There are two,” Talarico said when asked about his previous claim. He added that he had not expressed himself correctly when he made the original statement.
Talarico then attempted to shift the focus of his campaign toward economic issues, arguing that voters are more concerned about the cost of living than his previous comments on gender.
He pointed to the cost of diesel, groceries, utilities and health care as issues he plans to emphasize through Election Day.
The reversal quickly became a target for Republicans, who have argued that Talarico’s current positions conflict with positions he took while serving in the Texas House.
The Texas Tribune reported that Talarico’s recent comments represent a significant shift from his previous positions on transgender-related legislation. The publication reported that he had opposed Republican-backed restrictions involving transgender student athletes while serving in the Texas Legislature.
Fox News also reported that Talarico said he now supports a national ban on gender-transition surgeries for minors and opposes transgender-identifying males competing in women’s sports when he believes participation could threaten safety or fairness. Those positions represent changes from positions associated with his earlier legislative record.
Talarico’s comments have therefore become part of a broader effort by Republicans to portray him as changing his views as he campaigns for statewide office.
Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, Talarico’s opponent in the Senate race, has also made transgender-related issues a major part of his campaign messaging. The Houston Chronicle reported that Paxton used his appearance at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas to attack Talarico’s positions on transgender issues while also focusing on affordability and his conservative record.
The issue has received significant attention beyond Texas as the Senate contest has become one of the country’s closely watched 2026 races. The Associated Press reported that former President Donald Trump used the Republican convention to strongly endorse Paxton as Republicans seek to hold the Senate seat.
Recent polling has also underscored the competitiveness of the race. An Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey released in August found Paxton at 47% and Talarico at 46% among likely Texas voters, with 5% undecided.
Talarico has increasingly emphasized economic concerns as he attempts to appeal to voters beyond the Democratic base, while Paxton and other Republicans have continued to highlight Talarico’s previous statements and legislative record.
Abbott’s latest attack takes that criticism a step further by questioning whether Talarico’s change in position represents a genuine change of views or a political calculation ahead of the November election.
The clash comes as both candidates seek to define the race around issues that could determine how Texas voters view Talarico’s record. Republicans are focusing heavily on his past statements and votes on gender-related issues, while Talarico is attempting to make affordability and the economy central to his campaign.
With the Texas Senate race drawing national attention and both campaigns stepping up their attacks, Talarico’s reversal on his previous “six sexes” statement is likely to remain a prominent issue as the contest moves toward Election Day.
