The pivot

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico is out here trying to rewrite his vibe on border policy. In a new campaign ad released Monday, Talarico directly critiques former President Joe Biden, claiming he “called out” the former president for “failing us” on the border. For a Democrat running in a state as red as Texas, it’s a classic attempt to soften his image and capture those moderate votes.

The receipt check

Naturally, the internet—and his opponents—are doing the most with the receipts. While Talarico is currently branding himself as a “border security” Democrat, his track record tells a different story. In a 2019 interview with The Austin Chronicle, Talarico famously suggested that the state should take its entire $800 million border security budget and dump it into public education instead. He also lowkey called border enforcement “political grandstanding” back then, claiming that spending on boats and agents didn't actually solve the problem. When pressed for examples of his past Biden-era criticisms, his campaign didn't come through with any specific instances.

A messy history

This isn't the first time Talarico’s past is coming back to haunt his main character energy. He’s previously been a loud critic of Governor Greg Abbott’s border policies, even labeling them “atrocities” at one point. He’s also been known for some pretty polarizing takes, like calling to dismantle ICE and once referring to illegal immigrants as his “constituents.” His spokesperson, JT Ennis, is currently doing damage control, noting that Talarico’s current agenda is focused on targeting violent criminals and traffickers, and that he’s earned endorsements from various border county sheriffs.

Why it matters

With the midterms coming up on November 3, Talarico is locked in a tight race against GOP rival Ken Paxton. Talarico recently had to deal with some wild rumors after he went quiet for a few days—though he clarified he was just down with the flu—and now he’s betting that a tougher stance on immigration will help him close the gap in a high-stakes Texas showdown. The vibes are definitely contested.