You can learn a lot about a political campaign from the photos it chooses to post. The Democratic Party and Texas Rep. James Talarico's team chose barbecue. In the Lone Star State, where barbecue is practically a civic religion, that choice wasn't accidental.

On May 27, the day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican runoff, the Democratic Party's social media account shared a photo of Talarico wearing a Texas flag shirt and eagerly devouring what appeared to be a barbecue-basted turkey leg. Talarico looked chummy, relatable, even ordinary. But the photo wasn't really about barbecue. It was about rebranding Talarico as a Texas everyman.

The problem is that Talarico's record tells a different story.

His recent move toward the center looks less like a genuine change of heart than a political calculation. Many of his past comments and progressive positions are out of step with the values of most Texans, and trying to walk them back now comes across as calculated rather than sincere.

Texas knows the real James Talarico

The Democratic Party posted that barbecue photo for a reason. Talarico has already taken heat for previously embracing veganism. During a 2022 fundraiser supporting animal welfare legislation, he proudly announced that his campaign had gone vegan.

"I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign. We are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses," Talarico said.

Democrats can try to repackage his image, but veganism isn't the biggest hurdle. In a speech about reclaiming American symbols, he made comments that struck many........

© USA TODAY