Is James Talarico’s campaign giving us whiplash? The Texas Democratic state legislator and current U.S. Senate candidate is facing major scrutiny this week after a fundraiser in Greenwich Village. The real tea is that the event was hosted by leaders from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an organization that actively advocates for gender-affirming care for minors—including puberty blockers and hormone therapies. ## The contradiction This fundraiser happened just weeks after Talarico told Fox News that he would support a national ban on gender surgery for minors. He insisted he’s been consistent on the issue, claiming his previous opposition to similar Texas legislation was only because that specific bill was “overly broad.” Critics, including the campaign for his opponent, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, aren’t buying the pivot. Paxton campaign spokesperson Madison Cercy claimed Talarico “will change his positions depending on who’s in the room.” RNC spokesman Zach Kraft echoed this, arguing that Talarico’s legislative record suggests a much different stance than his recent campaign rhetoric. ## What this means for you With the Senate majority on the line in the November 3 midterm elections, this race is currently a dead heat. For voters, it highlights the intense pressure on candidates to balance national appeal with their own party’s platform. Talarico’s team maintains that he opposes gender reassignment surgery for minors, with spokesperson JT Ennis calling the flip-flop accusations “inaccurate.” Regardless, with Talarico appearing at multiple high-profile NYC fundraisers recently—including one featuring Robert De Niro—the political optics are definitely giving major drama as we approach Election Day.