POLITICS09/19/26

Talarico Texas Senate Race Coverage

Texas Senate Democrat James Talarico draws contrasting media coverage on eve of Election Day

Photo: Salon

FRAMING Salon emphasized Historic Democratic Competitiveness; Breitbart News emphasized Religious Values Controversy.

LEFT / CENTER-LEFT

▸Talarico is consistently polling ahead of Paxton, which is historically rare for Texas Democrats. — Salon

RIGHT / CENTER-RIGHT

▸The Daily Caller reported that Talarico's longtime Austin church distributes an "Inclusive Bible" removing gendered language for God. — Breitbart News
▸Rev. Jim Rigby, head pastor and spiritual mentor to Talarico, told an undercover journalist the church "typically" hands out the translation to new members. — Breitbart News
▸Undercover footage from August allegedly shows a new member receiving the Inclusive Bible during a church service. — Breitbart News

DOJ Threatens California Election Officials

The DOJ warned California officials that processing ballots from suspected noncitizens could result in criminal prosecution.

DEVELOPING TIMELINE

First Report Thursday: The Justice Department gave California 48 hours to review flagged noncitizen voters or face emergency legal action.

Sunday: DOJ threatens criminal prosecution for processing noncitizen ballots

Left: Feds pressure California mid-election with criminal threat

Right: Trump vows jail if noncitizen ballots are counted

DOJ charged 28 noncitizens and arrested 11 in California under 'Operation Protect the Vote.'

DEVELOPING TIMELINE

First Report Thursday: The Justice Department gave California 48 hours to review flagged noncitizen voters or face emergency legal action.

Sunday: DOJ threatens criminal prosecution for processing noncitizen ballots

Tuesday: DOJ charges 28 noncitizens, arrests 11 in California

Left: Defendants say they never registered to vote.

Right: DOJ arrests 11, charges 28 noncitizen voters.

At a CNN town hall, Talarico defended his nine-day flu absence and criticized Paxton for conspiracy theories.

DEVELOPING TIMELINE

First Report Oct 12: Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico attributed a roughly two-week campaign absence to having the flu.

Thursday: Talarico defends flu absence, attacks Paxton conspiracy claims

Left: Paxton allies falsely called it a mental health crisis.

Right: Talarico says he'd handle his flu absence the same way.

Trump endorses Netanyahu for Israel's Oct. 27 election, says U.S. may have to fight Iran alone without him

Left: sees U.S. meddling and Iran war stakes.

Right: highlights allied resolve to finish Iran job.