CORPUS CHRISTI — James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, the leading candidates for Texas Democrats in the upcoming November elections, concluded the first full day of their party’s state convention on Friday with impassioned speeches that emphasized populist economic policies. They accused Republicans of prioritizing cultural conflicts to divert attention from what they characterized as corruption and the erosion of the middle class.
Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, continued his campaign’s focus on the influence of billionaire donors, targeting Attorney General Ken Paxton, his Republican opponent, whom he branded “the most corrupt politician in America” and a “puppet” of affluent GOP benefactors.
“Our state is under the control of a new type of tyrant: billionaire megadonors,” Talarico declared. “They aren’t invading with armies; they’re simply buying the political system.”
Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate for governor, echoed this sentiment, criticizing Gov. Greg Abbott for being overly reliant on wealthy contributors, which she claims has negatively impacted working Texans.
“He is a master of deception — no one does it better,” Hinojosa remarked. “With one hand, he distracts you by pointing at your neighbor, while the other hand is secretly taking money from your pocket.”
Talarico reiterated similar themes in his closing remarks, avoiding contentious issues that have led to GOP backlash against him, including his statements on transgender rights and controversial views on Christianity. Instead, he returned to the idea of billionaires manipulating public opinion and pitting communities against one another. “They divide us by party, race, gender, and religion so we don’t notice that they’re picking our pockets,” he stated, employing the same metaphor as Hinojosa. “It’s the oldest strategy in the world: Divide and conquer. But Texas will not be conquered.”
The speeches from Talarico and Hinojosa, both state representatives from Austin, reinforced the anti-corruption narrative that Democrats have been promoting throughout the convention. Hinojosa has labeled the rising everyday costs faced by Texans as the “Greg Abbott Corruption Tax,” highlighting issues such as the governor’s favored school voucher initiative and no-bid contracts given to Abbott’s appointees.
Democratic leaders in Texas and nationwide have largely recognized that following a disappointing performance with working-class voters in 2024, the party needs to reposition itself as the advocate for blue-collar citizens. They have focused on everyday issues, rejecting the influence of affluent donors, and linking Republican billionaire contributions to increased expenses for middle-class Texans.
In response, Texas Republicans have countered that it is Democrats who are promoting a “socialist” agenda likely to raise costs if they gain power. Throughout the first day and a half of the Democratic convention, Abbott’s campaign launched a website titled “RadicalTexas,” criticizing Democrats for their stances on property taxes, education, immigration, and public safety. Paxton also aired an advertisement in Corpus Christi accusing Talarico of pursuing a “radical agenda” that would leave families “broke and jobless.”
Talarico took the opportunity to criticize Paxton during his speech, emphasizing his own deep Texas roots in contrast to Paxton’s upbringing in North Dakota and California. He likened his Republican opponent to an “obnoxious,” “loud” individual who makes others uncomfortable and adds to their bill while they’re not paying attention.
“That’s Ken Paxton, and I don’t know about you all, but I’m done picking up his tab,” Talarico declared.
Both leading Democratic candidates have pledged to refuse corporate PAC donations, and Talarico has made it a central part of his platform to ban super PACs, partisan gerrymandering, and congressional stock trading. However, his campaign has benefited from billionaire contributions to a super PAC supporting him, which cannot legally coordinate with his campaign. Similarly, substantial funding has also flowed into Republican campaigns.
