Shockwaves are still rippling across Texas after a deadly shooting in Austin left three people dead and more than a dozen injured. But as voters head into a heated Senate primary, the two leading Democratic contenders are facing sharp criticism for what they didn’t say.
James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, both vying for the Democratic nomination, addressed the tragedy — yet neither directly confronted concerns about possible Islamic terrorism, even as federal authorities investigate the attack as a potential act of terror.
Instead, Talarico leaned into faith and gun control.
“I believe in the power of prayer. I believe prayer changes lives,” Talarico said in an interview with MS Now. “But there is something profoundly cynical in asking God to solve a problem we’re not willing to solve ourselves.”
He quickly pivoted to policy, arguing that prayer should be paired with what he calls “commonsense gun safety proposals” such as universal background checks and red flag laws. “Dangerous people should not be allowed to get guns,” he added, reiterating his support for stricter screening measures.
Crockett, meanwhile, took to TikTok with a warning against stereotyping minorities and immigrants in the aftermath of the violence.
“Every time there’s some crazy situation like this, black folks sit around and say, ‘Oh, I hope they’re not black,’” Crockett said. She added that immigrant communities likely feared being blamed as well.
But critics say both Democrats avoided the elephant in the room.
The suspect, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, allegedly opened fire in Austin while wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the words “property of Allah.” Authorities later discovered an Iranian flag and photos of Islamic leaders during a search of his home. His exact motive remains under investigation. He was shot and killed by police at the scene.
The timing has only intensified scrutiny. The attack came just one day after U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iran’s military leadership, reportedly killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed federal authorities are assisting in examining whether the shooting constitutes terrorism.
“We’re looking at the totality of this,” Davis said, noting investigators are weighing broader national and international events as they assess motive.
Still, Talarico and Crockett declined to directly address whether radical Islamic extremism could pose an increased threat.
That silence drew swift backlash from Republicans.
“Absolutely disgusting stuff,” said RNC spokesman Zach Kraft. He accused the Democratic candidates of blaming “hardworking Texans who go to church and lawfully own guns, instead of the radical Islamic terrorist who committed this heinous act.”
On the campaign trail, Republican candidates wasted no time drawing a stark contrast.
Rep. Wesley Hunt pointed squarely at immigration enforcement failures. “This is what happened when you had four years of an open border,” Hunt said in an interview. “You have no idea who they are.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton echoed concerns about vetting. “We have to do a better job,” he said, arguing that massive illegal immigration strains law enforcement’s ability to track potential threats.
Sen. John Cornyn added that the incident underscores “the importance of vetting people before they come across the border,” charging that prior border policies allowed unknown risks into the country.
Crockett pushed back on broader narratives about immigration, arguing that most mass shooters in the United States are “White, male and homegrown.” She did not detail how that assertion would translate into policy as a U.S. senator. Instead, she returned to gun laws. “Don’t sit there and say that it’s the immigrants. Maybe it’s your lax laws when it comes to guns,” she said.
As investigators continue to piece together Diagne’s motive, the political fallout is already in full swing. With voters heading to the polls, the divide could not be clearer: Democrats emphasizing gun control and warnings against profiling, Republicans hammering border security and radicalization.
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