Texas Senate race: Talarico appears on Colbert, Cornyn uses religious ad

Late night television fans got a glimpse of one of the leading U.S. Senate candidates in Texas this week.

State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" Monday, Feb. 16, in a segment that aired on YouTube because of ongoing pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under President Donald Trump's administration.

“I think Donald Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas," Talarico said in a news release. "This is the party that ran against cancel culture. Now they’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, and what we read. This is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top. A threat to one of our first amendment rights is a threat to all of our first amendment rights.”

Colbert insisted during the episode that CBS, which airs "The Late Show," instructed him that he could not have Talarico on the show and could not mention that he was not allowed to have him on. For its part, CBS denied barring Talarico from the show in a statement to USA TODAY.

Talarico's appearance on "The Late Show" is his second to raise Trump's ire — an earlier appearance on "The View" is currently under investigation by the FCC.

During his conversation with Colbert, Talarico discussed a variety of topics including free speech censorship under Trump, taking back Texas for Democrats, faith in politics, the Ten Commandments being displayed in classrooms and the disastrous impact of big money in politics.

The appearance marks a significant push just before the Super Tuesday primary, where Talarico will go toe-to-toe with U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, in the Democratic primary.

Cornyn launches ad featuring pastor, author

While Talarico is taking his campaign to a national late-night audience, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is leaning on religion to advance his cause.

The new radio ad, which follows an online video, features Max Lucado, a Christian author and teaching minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, offering a strong endorsement and calling Cornyn "a friend and a brother in Christ."

"Senator Cornyn has managed to fulfill his calling with remarkable integrity," Lucado says in the ad. "Senator Cornyn and his wife certainly have a place in my heart, and I will make it a point to remember them in the upcoming Texas primary on March the 3rd."

For Cornyn, who is facing a tight race against Attorney General Ken Paxton, the endorsement represents a last call to supporters before the coming Republican primary.

“My Christian faith has always guided my life in public service, and I’m proud of my record standing up for Judeo-Christian values, defending unborn life, and protecting our children," Cornyn said in a statement. "I will continue striving to live out biblical principles in the U.S. Senate and fight for the family values that make Texas strong.”

Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at [email protected].