Talarico Clarifies Stance on Trans Athletes After Fox News Comments

Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico has faced criticism after telling Fox News he would support a national ban on gender-transition surgery for minors and oppose transgender girls competing in women’s sports when safety or fairness is at stake. After pushback from transgender advocates at a Houston fundraiser, Talarico said his comments lacked context, maintained that local officials and institutions should make decisions about sports, and pointed to his previous opposition to Texas bans on transgender athletes. The episode marks a shift from his forceful defense of transgender student-athletes in 2021 and reflects his effort to broaden his appeal in conservative Texas. The controversy comes as Republicans nationally and in Congress highlight transgender participation in women’s sports as a campaign issue, while Democrats argue that lawmakers should focus more on affordability and other economic concerns.