There is a phrase floating around Texas that goes "Don't California my Texas," which is basically what locals mutter under their breath every time a U-Haul with Golden State plates pulls into an Austin apartment complex. Well, that anti-California energy has now officially entered the Texas Senate race, and it backfired on the Democrat who tried to weaponize it in spectacular fashion.
As The American Tribune reported, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico's campaign decided the best line of attack against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was to call him a "California transplant." A Facebook post connected to his campaign jabbed that Paxton "clearly misses his old home in California." Solid burn, except for one tiny detail: Paxton's dad was a B-52 pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and the family moved around the country because that is what military families do. They lived in North Dakota, Florida, New York, North Carolina, California, and Oklahoma. You know, because the Air Force does not let you pick your favorite zip code.
So congratulations to the Talarico campaign for accidentally dunking on every military brat who ever had to switch schools mid-year because their parent was busy defending the country.
According to a report from The Daily Caller, Paxton's campaign spokesperson Madison Cercy was not exactly diplomatic in her response. "It is outrageous that Talarico is attacking the Attorney General for growing up in a military family, claiming that if you weren't born in Texas you aren't a Texan," Cercy said. She then twisted the knife by pointing out that Talarico opposed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.
That bill, according to the National Military Family Association, included $9 billion for troop and military family quality of life improvements, covering things like upgrades to schools serving military kids, child care spending, and barracks renovations. It also had $2.9 billion for the Basic Allowance for Housing to help service members pay their rent or mortgage. Cercy suggested Talarico explain to the 1.7 million military families and veterans in Texas why he wanted to deny them those benefits.
When the Daily Caller reached out to the Talarico campaign for comment, they got the political equivalent of a read receipt with no reply.
Meanwhile, Paxton has been hammering his opponent as out of touch with Texas values, pointing to a series of fundraisers Talarico attended in San Francisco in mid-April featuring prominent Democratic tech donors. "He went to San Francisco to raise money. In my opinion, those are his people. They're not in Texas," Paxton said.
Talarico has tried to appeal to faith-based voters by emphasizing his Christianity, which is a bold strategy when your campaign is simultaneously roasting a guy for having a dad who flew bombers for the United States military. Reading the room is apparently not a prerequisite for running for Senate in Texas.
Read more American news stories at: The American Tribune
