Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, currently a state representative, has become embroiled in a controversy regarding his voter registration and residency, details of which have recently surfaced in public records. The situation bears a striking resemblance to allegations of voter fraud that Talarico has frequently made against his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, in the ongoing Senate race.
"Turns out, he was committing voter fraud the whole time, voting illegally in six elections in a row from the wrong address." — James Talarico, Texas State Representative and Senate Candidate
According to reporting by The Federalist, newly discovered financial and voter registration records indicate that Talarico, 37, holds a joint checking account with his mother, who has also contributed to his political campaigns over several election cycles. More significantly, voter registration records show Talarico once listed his mother's Austin address as his primary residence, even as other documentation suggested he was living at a different location at the time.
The timing of these changes is central to the controversy. Talarico first won a Texas House seat representing District 52 in Round Rock in 2018, a position he retained through his 2020 reelection. During this period, he resided at a Porano Circle address within that district. However, following the 2020 census and subsequent redistricting efforts by the Republican-controlled Legislature, Talarico's district was redrawn, making it more challenging for him to secure reelection there.
In October 2021, Talarico announced his decision to switch districts, aiming for the open House District 50 seat in Austin after Democratic incumbent Celia Israel decided to run for mayor. Talarico publicly framed this move as a defiant response to the redistricting, stating at the time, "Republicans have gerrymandered me out of my district. If they think they can keep me off the House floor, they better think again." He also characterized it as a return to his roots, telling followers, "I’m grateful to everyone urging me to move back to HD50 — where I grew up — to run for the seat being vacated by my friend Rep Israel."
Weeks after these public statements, records show Talarico officially changed his voter registration to his mother’s Austin address in early December 2021. This change occurred just days before the filing deadline for the 2022 election cycle. The Federalist's reporting suggests that no evidence has emerged to confirm Talarico physically resided at his mother's home during the period in question. Texas constitutional requirements for House candidates mandate residency in the state for two full years before an election and within their target district for at least one year. Talarico did eventually purchase property within District 50, a home on Manford Hill Drive in Austin, but this acquisition occurred only after his campaign for the seat was already underway.
The scrutiny on Talarico's residency is amplified by his own campaign strategy. He has consistently accused his Republican rival, Attorney General Ken Paxton, of committing voter fraud by casting ballots from an address he no longer occupied. These accusations stem from earlier reports by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, which detailed that Paxton voted in six separate elections using a residence he had vacated after separating from his wife. During a recent campaign stop in Houston, Talarico reiterated these claims, telling an audience, "As our state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton has gone on a voter fraud witch hunt." He continued, "Turns out, he was committing voter fraud the whole time, voting illegally in six elections in a row from the wrong address," according to The Texas Tribune.
The Federalist argues that Talarico's own paper trail, encompassing both voter files and property records, warrants the same level of examination he has applied to Paxton under Texas residency laws. Adding another dimension to the situation, the outlet reported that Talarico has utilized a Texas statute designed to shield certain public officials and law enforcement personnel from having their voter registration details made public.
As of the publication of The Federalist's report, no criminal charges have been filed against Talarico regarding these findings, and he has not issued any public statement addressing the allegations. The unfolding developments indicate that election integrity and candidate residency are poised to remain prominent issues as the Texas Senate race intensifies, with both campaigns navigating competing claims.
