Vance implies Talarico is gay at Texas rally

At a Texas rally for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, Vice President JD Vance joked that he loved a male audience member “in a totally platonic way” and added, “I’m the vice president, not James Talarico,” implying that Democratic candidate Talarico is gay. Vance also called Talarico a “freak” and questioned what might be in his internet search history, tying the attacks to Talarico’s comments and positions on transgender people. Talarico has not publicly identified as gay and is in a long-term relationship with a woman; the remarks were part of Republicans’ broader attacks on him ahead of the Texas election.