Talarico Walks Back Past Gender Statements in Fox Interview

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico said in a Fox News interview aired September 9, 2026, that he opposes transgender athletes competing in girls sports when their participation endangers safety or fairness, a position that differs from votes he cast as a state lawmaker against restrictions on transgender student-athletes. Speaking with national correspondent Brooke Taylor, Talarico said, I oppose trans athletes playing in girls sports if it endangers safety or fairness, adding that every sport has to be safe and fair and that, as a former public school teacher, he cares about student athletes. The clip was circulated widely on social media, including by former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, and drew criticism from online users who questioned whether the conditional wording marked a genuine shift or a campaign hedge. His campaign did not specify which sports or cases would meet the safety or fairness test, and the circulated footage did not show the full interview. Talarico also walked back past statements on gender.