Undercover footage obtained by O’Keefe Media Group captures individuals close to Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico suggesting his public messaging on border security, immigration, abortion, and transgender surgeries for minors may be designed to appeal to moderate voters.
As Texas voters prepare to choose between Ken Paxton and James Talarico in the U.S. Senate race, O’Keefe Media Group has obtained undercover footage raising questions about whether Talarico’s public positions reflect his private political beliefs.
Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, has made recent media appearances in which he has presented positions on issues such as border security in terms that may appeal to centrist and independent voters. However, conversations captured by OMG with Williamson County Democratic Chair Kim Collins Gilby, Talarico’s girlfriend’s father Matt Menard, and regional organizer Andhi Beltran Garcia suggest that his public messaging may not fully reflect his underlying progressive positions.
Williamson County Democratic Chair Questions Talarico’s Moderate Messaging
During an undercover conversation, Williamson County Democratic Chair Kim Collins Gilby discussed Talarico’s public comments on border security and his approach to appealing to Texas voters.
When asked about Talarico’s position on closing the border, Collins Gilby stated:
“No, James is one vote. I mean, James will not vote to close, you know, the border. I mean, he said he thinks we ought to put a welcome mat out at our border.”
The comments raise questions about how Talarico’s public statements on border security compare with the expectations of Democratic officials familiar with his political views.
Collins Gilby also addressed Talarico’s comments during a CNN town hall concerning transgender surgeries for minors. She suggested his remarks may have been intended to make him appear more centrist.
“He probably said that to try to make himself appear more centrist,” Collins Gilby said. “He’s very liberal.”
She later added that candidates in Texas face pressure to move toward the center to win elections.
“I’m one of the most liberal people you’ll ever meet,” Collins Gilby said. “But we’ve got to get elected, so we can do something.”
Girlfriend’s Father Says Talarico Is Not Moving to the Middle
In another undercover conversation, Matt Menard, who identified himself as the father of Talarico’s girlfriend, Brianna Menard, questioned whether the candidate’s recent public messaging represents a genuine move toward the political center.
“Anyway, he’s not going moderate. He’s not going to the middle. He’s not conservative. He is very much in favor of immigration,” Menard said.
When asked whether Talarico supports the immigration enforcement actions carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Menard responded emphatically that he does not.
“Don’t put too much stock into border security comments,” Menard said, adding that Talarico supports a pathway to citizenship for everyone.
Menard also described Talarico as deeply opposed to ICE’s current enforcement tactics, saying he believes the candidate would act to stop those policies if Democrats regained control of Congress.
Asked whether Talarico would stop those actions under a Democratic-controlled House and Senate, Menard responded, “Oh, I think if we take control of the House and Senate, he’ll absolutely stop it. He’ll do it. Yeah, no question about it.”
Menard repeatedly emphasized that he does not believe Talarico is moving toward the political center.
“James isn’t going middle,” Menard said. “He’s a progressive, but he was speaking on topics that resonate to the voters, to all voters.”
Undercover Conversation Raises Questions About Abortion Position
The footage also captures a conversation with Andhi Beltran Garcia, a regional organizer at Travis County Democratic Headquarters, concerning Talarico’s position on abortion.
Garcia suggested Talarico would likely present a more moderate position to appeal to Texas voters, while privately holding a more progressive view.
“He’s definitely going to play the middle ground because he’s in Texas,” Garcia said.
Discussing current abortion restrictions in Texas, Garcia said Talarico believes the existing situation has gone too far and suggested he favors leaving decisions to women and their doctors rather than imposing additional government restrictions.
“He’s definitely going to play the middle ground, but he is a lot more progressive on it,” Garcia said.
What Does Talarico Really Believe?
The undercover footage presents a contrast between Talarico’s public messaging and how people who say they know him describe his political views behind the scenes.
Across separate conversations, Collins Gilby and Menard questioned whether Talarico is genuinely moving toward the political center. Garcia similarly suggested that Talarico may be presenting a more moderate position on abortion because he is running for office in Texas.
The footage raises broader questions about political messaging during competitive elections, particularly when candidates seek support from independent voters while maintaining positions that allies describe as more progressive.
For Texas voters, the distinction matters. Positions on border security, immigration enforcement, abortion, and transgender medical procedures for minors could shape how a candidate votes if elected to the Senate.
O’Keefe Media Group has reached out to James Talarico’s campaign, his family, and the Williamson County Democratic Party for comment.
If you have inside information about a candidate in the upcoming midterm elections who may be misrepresenting their political beliefs to voters, contact OMG securely at [email protected] or through Signal at 914-491-9395.
