SerpApi.Org
Black voters voiced their priorities and concerns about Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico at a town hall Monday night as part of his campaign tour to build a strong coalition ahead of the November election.
Talarico, a state representative from the Austin area, addressed Black voters at Disciple Central Community Church in Desoto. The town hall followed one Sunday in Houston in which a majority of the attendees were Black.
Talarico faces Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Nov. 3.
Khandi and Swaine Thompson of Rockwall said they came to learn more about Talarico. Both voted for U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the primary and knew little of Talarico before. For them, Talarico can get the support of the Black community if he works to address racial stereotypes and help Black people.
“He has to talk about equality, and he has to tell people of color directly, ‘You matter,’” Swaine Thompson said. “Not just say it from a podium, but he has to walk to communities and tell them that.”
During the town hall, Talarico addressed questions that covered reparations, restoring employment for fired federal workers, Medicaid rollbacks and school vouchers.
Talarico discussed his outreach efforts to the Black community, pledging $25 million to Black voter outreach. He gave the commencement address at Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in Dallas, in May. He also did interviews with Black media outlets Dallas Weekly, Houston Defender and the Tashara Parker Show.
He was joined by fellow Democrats Tiffany Clark, a Democratic Texas State Board of Education trustee from Desoto, state Rep. Aicha Davis of Dallas and Dallas County Clerk Damarcus Offord.
Rob Shelton of Midlothian voted for Crockett and is the state democratic executive committee chair for Congressional District 6. Shelton met Talarico years ago and believes in him as a candidate but says work needs to be done to bridge the gap with the Black community.
“The most important reason we need to put this man in office is because it gives us a seat at the table,” Shelton said. “He will have to answer the phone for us. He will have to sit down and talk to us when he comes back from D.C. He’s going to have to come back here.”
Glenn Montgomery of Cedar Hill voted for Crockett in the primary but has been disappointed by the Democratic Party's lack of action, to the point where he considers being an independent. He came to see if Talarico is ready to fight for them.
“I need the Democratic Party to show that they’re willing to fight,” Montgomery said. “I need some backbone.”
