A Campaign Rooted in Love, Not Division

DENTON, TX — On two of the latest stops of his North Texas campaign trail, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico delivered a consistent and impassioned message: Texas politics must move away from fear and division and toward unity grounded in love, respect, and accountability for those in power.

Speaking to students and community members at the University of North Texas on February 10, Talarico encouraged first-time and young voters to see civic engagement as an act of care for their neighbors. In the UNT College Dems-led event, the candidate framed the upcoming March 3 Democratic Primary election as a moral crossroads for the state.

“Our healthcare system is broken, our economic system is broken, even our relationships with each other feel broken,” Talarico said. “And that’s because the most powerful people in the world want it that way.”

Throughout both rallies, Talarico placed responsibility for political polarization squarely on billionaire interests and corporate forces that profit from division, both offline and online, arguing that social media algorithms and corporate media ecosystems are deliberately designed to fracture communities.

Standing Up to ICE and State Violence

A notable throughline of Talarico’s remarks in Denton and Plano was his unflinching condemnation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its recent violent actions against both citizens and noncitizens. Referencing the recent killing of Renee Good in Minnesota, Talarico described ICE as a dangerous and unaccountable force.

“ICE shot a mother in the face,” he told the Denton crowd. “It is time to tear down this secret police force and replace it with an agency that actually focuses on public safety for all of us.”

Talarico distilled his position even further: “This has never been about immigration,” he said. “This has always been about control.”

Faith as a Foundation for Policy

In Denton and Plano, Talarico grounded his political vision in his Christian faith, emphasizing his belief that love must extend beyond ideological, racial, or religious boundaries.

“My faith teaches me to love my neighbor as myself,” he said. “Not just my neighbor who looks like me. Not just my neighbor who prays like me. Not just my neighbor who votes like me.”

The message resonated strongly with a mixed audience of college students, educators, and North Texans, many of whom may see this type of moral clarity as increasingly absent from modern political representatives.

Plano Town Hall Brings Voters Into the Conversation

While Denton centered on rally-style remarks, Talarico’s January 12 stop in Plano offered a markedly different dynamic. At the Plano Event Center, hundreds of voters gathered for a town hall-style meeting that featured an extended Q&A session, giving constituents of all ages a direct line to the candidate.

Children as young as nine years old stepped up to ask questions, including one that cut straight to the heart of the evening: “How do we stop ICE?”

Rather than sidestepping difficult topics, Talarico used the Socratic format to calm anxieties and redirect frustration into action, repeatedly urging attendees to organize, vote, and hold systems, not individuals, accountable.

Community Concerns: Billionaires, Education, and Resources

In Plano, voters voiced concern about the growing influence of tech conglomerates, data centers, and billionaire-backed corporations they fear are draining Texas communities of natural and economic resources. Talarico responded by calling for reinvestment, arguing that companies extracting wealth from Texas should be required to give back to the people who live there.

As a former middle school teacher, he also connected deeply with educators in attendance, reiterating his belief that Texas teachers should earn a $100,000 annual salary instead of watching public funds be misallocated elsewhere.

Bipartisanship Without Compromise

Talarico often points to his political origins in Round Rock where he flipped a Trump-held district. He recounts it as proof that coalition-building is possible, even in deeply polarized spaces. In Denton, he reiterated his willingness to work across party lines, particularly on healthcare, while remaining firm on civil rights and democratic norms.

He sharply criticized Republican leadership for recently handing over Texas voter records to the federal government, calling the move “mortifying” and emblematic of a broader disregard for transparency and voter trust.

A Grassroots Campaign Heading Into the Primary

As the March 3 Primary approaches, Talarico continues to emphasize that his campaign is fueled entirely by grassroots support. He remains the only candidate in the race who does not accept corporate PAC money, relying instead on small-dollar donations and an expanding volunteer base.

According to the campaign, more than 13,000 volunteers are now actively involved statewide: a number Talarico says reflects growing hunger for a politics rooted in dignity, accountability, and shared humanity.