By Scarlett Jorgensen

“Texas is not for sale!” was one of the main messages James Talarico brought to Corpus Christi on Oct. 24 as the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate spoke to a crowd of nearly 1,000 people at the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures & Education Center. Hundreds also gathered outside the venue to listen as he criticized political corruption and argued that elected officials should be working for the people they represent.

Talarico opened with a reference to Friday Night Lights, comparing the final days of the election season to the closing moments of a football game.

“There is a moment in every game, the last play, the last drive, when you have to leave it all on the field. Corpus, we are in that moment, in the final days of this election. They are coming at us with everything they got. They are scared, they are terrified,” Talarico said.

He returned to his idea of public service throughout his speech, arguing that politicians should focus on the people they represent instead of wealthy donors or their own interests.

“Politics is supposed to be about service. Elected officials aren’t supposed to serve themselves, they’re not supposed to serve their mega-donors, they’re supposed to serve us, they’re supposed to serve the people,” Talarico said.

Talarico, a former school teacher, also brought up education funding in Texas, referencing the $5 billion in education cuts in 2011, the year he began teaching. He connected his criticism of political leadership to the everyday costs people face, including gas, groceries and health care.

He also criticized Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, his opponent in the Senate race, who was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 and later acquitted by the Texas Senate. Talarico accused Paxton of putting his own interests ahead of the public, calling him an example of what he believes is wrong with politics.

If elected, Talarico said his first bill would be a comprehensive anti-corruption agenda. His proposals include overturning Citizens United, banning corporate PACS and super PACs, preventing members of Congress from trading stocks, ending partisan gerrymandering nationwide and establishing term limits.

Talarico also accused trillionaire Elon Musk of trying to influence the Texas Senate race by funding attack ads, mail and text messages. He said Musk was helping bankroll an effort to get Paxton elected, while his own campaign was supported by 1.3 million individual donors who contributed their hard-earned money.

“Elon is trying to buy Texas,” Talarico said. “Texas is not for sale!”