James Talarico, a progressive Democrat and state legislator, is competing for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, a race that could determine the chamber’s partisan balance.
Talarico has publicly stated that he opposes gender‑reassignment surgeries for minors, emphasizing his commitment to protecting children from irreversible medical procedures.
Despite this position, he recently appeared at a fundraising event in Austin alongside Dr. Dustin Reid, a surgeon who previously performed female‑to‑male breast surgeries on minors before Texas enacted a ban on the practice.
Dr. Reid explained that he performed such surgeries only in rare, case‑by‑case instances and has ceased the procedures in compliance with state law.
The juxtaposition of Talarico’s opposition to minors’ gender surgeries with his association with a surgeon who performed them has drawn criticism from opponents who question the consistency of his stance.
Political analysts suggest that the controversy could become a decisive factor in the tightly contested Senate contest.
