James Talarico stirs viral 'Late Show' moment. Who is the Texas Dem?

 "The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert's latest saga with his soon-to-be-former network is putting a national spotlight on a Texas state representative.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a rising Democratic star, was set to appear on Colbert's show on Feb. 16 amid a campaign for U.S. Senate. Colbert said on the episode that CBS' lawyers quashed the televised interview, and suggested the network feared a new interpretation of FCC's "equal time rule," which requires broadcast networks and radio stations to give equal time to all candidates in an election.

Colbert candidly expressed his ire about the cut segment, saying "because my network clearly doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this."

Now, the interview − which appeared instead on The Late Show's YouTube channel − is drawing attention to Talarico, who is facing off against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the Senate spot in a race that is also testing Democrats' direction in the Trump era.

Talarico posted the interview on social media, describing it as the "interview Donald Trump didn't want you to see."

Here's what to know about Talarico and why Americans across the country are paying attention to him.

Career spans public school to politics to prayer

Talarico was born in 1989 in Round Rock, Texas, to a single mother, according to his campaign website. When his father became abusive, his mother moved them to a hotel, and later an apartment, and raised Talarico in east Austin.

He earned a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin. He then went to work for Teach for America as a sixth grade language arts teacher at Rhodes Middle School on the westside of San Antonio, a historically Mexican-American community. Talarico then pursued a master's degree in education policy from Harvard University, according to Ballotpedia.

Talarico was first elected to the state House in 2018, gaining attention for walking the full expanse of his district. The Texas lawmaker right away prioritized education, promoting his "Whole Student Agenda". He has served on various committees for education, housing and economic development. He gained national recognition in 2021 when he and fellow Democrats launched a quorum-breaking walkout over concerns for voting rights. He also joined Democrats who fled the state in August 2025 to thwart a GOP redistricting effort.

The grandson of a preacher, Talarico is a devout Christian, and his faith is influential on his political career. He earned a Master of Divinity degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, studying while serving as a state representative.

His current term ends on Jan. 12, 2027.

Political positions

Talarico says he stands for progressive policies and Christian values. A few key areas include:

• Healthcare: Talarico has Type 1 diabetes. A diabetic emergency led him to write and pass a bill for a state insulin price cap at $25, and he has made fair insulin pricing a campaign point in his 2026 Senate run, too.
• Economy: Talarico positions himself as one to take down the uber-wealthy, touting better wages and boosting affordability of housing and childcare. His Senate campaign site pits himself against "billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians."
• Immigration: Talarico advocates for a "front porch" approach to immigration, saying "it should have a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door." He supports cracking down on criminal cartels but welcoming anyone who wants to come work, seek asylum or is a refugee in the U.S.
• Abortion and LGBTQ+ rights: Talarico is a member of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus and has been outspoken against Christian nationalist views on religion in schools, reproductive health and transgender rights. On a 2025 podcast episode with Joe Rogan, Talarico argued the Christian nationalist movement was "religion at its worst" and said the Bible sets out precedent for abortion rights and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Relationship with Democratic party

Party leaders have mostly been silent on Talarico's Senate bid so far. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) made the first public endorsement of Talarico last week.

Talarico has been critical of Democrats on multiple occasions, too, saying on a September 2025 episode of Politico's "The Conversation" that his party "is the party of the status quo" − as opposed to his focus on change.

Active Senate run

Talarico announced his Senate run in September 2025. A win could be historic: Texas hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988. Victory would represent a turning of the tide in a state held tightly by President Donald Trump's base. It would also mark the mobilization of Latino voters for a Democrat after that demographic largely turned for Trump.

He faces Crockett, another rising star, in March for the party's nomination and a shot at unseating Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who faces a primary challenge from Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Both Democrats tout progressive platforms; Crockett brings Washington experience and is known for her vocal rebukes of the Trump administration from her current seat on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, Talarico has urged voters to think of him as one to go above partisan divisions.

“The real fight in this country is not left versus right. It’s top versus bottom,” he said in the January debate. “We will not win this race in November with the same old politics of division.”

Early voting in the primary began on Feb 17.