Talarico’s comments on Fox News came in contrast to positions he took in the Texas House opposing GOP restrictions on trans student-athletes.

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico on Sept. 9, 2026 said he opposed transgender student-athletes competing in girls’ sports “if it endangers safety or fairness,” reversing course on previous positions he took while in the Texas House opposing restrictions on trans athletes.

“Every sport has to be safe and fair,” Talarico said on Fox News. “As a former public school teacher, I care a lot about our student athletes, I care a lot about our students. And so I will oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness.”

The remark echoes what his campaign spokesperson recently said in a written statement. But it appeared to be the first time Talarico himself has explicitly come out in favor of banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. The platform—Fox News, with its largely conservative audience—was also notable, as Talarico has sought to win over right-leaning voters in his bid to deliver Democrats’ first statewide win in Texas since 1994. Talarico gave the interview as Republicans from across the country gathered in Dallas for a midterm convention aimed at firing up the GOP’s base ahead of November.

As a state representative, Talarico voted against GOP restrictions barring trans student-athletes from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. He said such proposals amounted to a push for the government to “police people’s private parts” and would harm “the least of these,” a reference to Jesus’ remarks in scripture. And he compared the justifications offered for the bans—that trans athletes had a genetic advantage and excluding them would promote safety—to rationales historically used to bar Black athletes from competing in professional sports.

“Some things are more important than perfectly........

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