Full Breakdown
James Talarico Faces Scrutiny Over Classroom Assignments
3/15/2026, 2:03:25 PM
Controversial Classroom Assignments
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the Texas Senate, is under scrutiny for past classroom assignments during his tenure as a sixth-grade teacher at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio. Notably, Talarico instructed his students to write "Obama memoirs" following President Barack Obama's election victory in 2012. In a Facebook post dated November 13, 2012, Talarico stated, "Today, we finished writing our Obama memoirs," explaining that students wrote from the perspective of a member of the Obama family. One student’s memoir expressed emotional support for Obama, stating, "I was crying when my father was giving his speech."
Political Implications
Talarico's teaching methods have drawn criticism from various conservative commentators and political figures. Corey DeAngelis, a school choice advocate, labeled the assignment as "disqualifying" for a Senate candidate. The National Republican Senatorial Committee highlighted Talarico's encouragement for students to watch the Democratic National Convention, questioning the appropriateness of his actions as an educator. Conservative commentator Steve Guest criticized Talarico's approach, suggesting it was inappropriate for a public school teacher to promote partisan political messages in the classroom.
Responses from Talarico's Campaign
In response to the backlash, Talarico's press secretary, JT Ennis, defended him, stating that critics are "scared of James Talarico for good reason." Ennis emphasized that Talarico's campaign is focused on uniting Texans and challenging the political status quo. Talarico is set to face either incumbent Senator John Cornyn or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the upcoming November election, both of whom are currently engaged in a primary runoff.
Criticism of Educational Practices
Critics have raised concerns about Talarico's educational practices, suggesting that his classroom activities reflect a partisan bias. Matt Mackowiak, a senior advisor to Cornyn's campaign, remarked that Talarico's posts indicate he was promoting a political agenda inappropriately to middle school students. Additionally, Talarico's "free thinker" wall featured figures such as Obama, Bill Gates, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, but notably excluded any Republican or conservative leaders.
What's Next for Talarico
As the primary runoff between Cornyn and Paxton approaches on May 26, the political landscape in Texas remains competitive. The Cook Political Report currently rates the general election as "Likely Republican," indicating a challenging environment for Talarico as he seeks to become the first Democratic senator from Texas in decades.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today, we finished writing our Obama memoirs. We’ve been learning about narrative non-fiction writing like memoirs for the past 2 weeks.” — James Talarico, Texas Senate Candidate
- “What Talarico was doing as an ‘educator.’” — Steve Guest, Conservative Commentator
- “It makes you wonder what he was teaching those kids in class behind closed doors.” — Matt Mackowiak, Senior Advisor to John Cornyn's Campaign
