Early life and education
Talarico was born at a Round Rock Hospital in Williamson County, Texas, to Tamara Causey, a single mother. [3] He was later adopted by Mark Talarico, of Italian descent, and has a younger sister. He attended Round Rock ISD schools and graduated from McNeil High School in Williamson County.
His grandfather was a Baptist preacher in South Texas who he says taught him that Christianity "is a simple—though not easy—religion, rooted in two commandments: 'love God and love your neighbor.'" [2]
Talarico earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin, [7] where he organized students for tuition relief. [8] He was a member of the Friar Society, the University of Texas's oldest honor society. [9] He later earned a Master of Education degree in education policy from Harvard University. [10]
In August 2022, while a member of the Texas House of Representatives, Talarico began pursuing a Master of Divinity at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. [3]
Texas House of Representatives
2018
Talarico launched his campaign for the Texas House shortly after incumbent state legislator Larry Gonzales chose not to run for reelection. At age 28, Talarico won both the special and general elections against Republican nominee Cynthia Flores, [13] garnering media attention for walking the full length of the district. [14]
Talarico was sworn into the Texas House of Representatives on November 20, 2018. He was appointed to the Public Education and Juvenile Justice Committees. During the 2019 session he was the Texas Legislature's youngest member. [15]
In the 86th Texas Legislature, Talarico filed the Whole Student Agenda, [11] a legislative package with bills addressing public education policy. Two bills from this list were passed by the legislature: HB 3012, which required students who were suspended from school have an alternative means of receiving coursework, [16] and HB 455, which would standardize a model recess policy. Governor Abbott vetoed HB 455. [17]
2020
Talarico was reelected, defeating former Hutto City Councilmember Lucio Valdez with 51.5% of the vote. [18] For the 87th Legislative Session, he was reappointed to the Public Education and Juvenile Justice Committees and appointed to the Calendars Committee. [19]
During the 87th legislative session, Talarico filed HB54, also known as Javier Ambler's Law, and the legislature passed it. It prohibits state law enforcement agencies, except game wardens, from entering into contracts with reality TV shows that film them in the line of duty. [20] This was in response to the role Live PD is alleged to have played in the killing of Javier Ambler by Williamson County, Texas police. Talarico had previously criticized Sheriff Robert Chody's handling of the incident, calling for his resignation. [21]
Talarico was the primary author of HB30, which provided a path for minors in the criminal justice system who have been adjudicated as adults or who are eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to earn a high school diploma instead of pursuing a high school equivalency. [22]
Talarico was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during a five-day stint in the ICU after a 2018 campaign event where he walked 25 miles across his district. After his diagnosis, he discovered that insulin can cost Americans around $700 per month. He supported the passage of a bill that caps insulin prices at $25 per month. [23] [24]
At the end of the legislative session, Texas Monthly magazine named Talarico one of the Top 10 Best Legislators. [25]
2022
After his district was made significantly more Republican during the 2020 redistricting process, Talarico announced that he would run in the neighboring House District 50, a safe Democratic seat being vacated by Celia Israel. [26] [27] [28] His previous district was a swing district. [29]
He won the primary election with 78.5% of the vote and the general election with 76.8% of the vote. [30]
During the 88th legislative session, Talarico was the primary author of House Bill 25, which would create the Texas Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program and allow Texas to import lower-cost Canadian medications that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [31]
Talarico was an outspoken critic of legislation that would have required the display of the Ten Commandments in all elementary and secondary classrooms, on the constitutional grounds of separation of church and state. He called the measure "un-American" and "un-Christian". [32] The bill was not signed into law. [33]
2024
Talarico defeated Nathan Boynton in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election. [34] [35]
2025
In 2025, Talarico continued to be a major voice in opposition to placing the Ten Commandments in Texas public schools. The specific legislation, SB 10, required every classroom to visibly display a poster containing the Ten Commandments, sized at least 16 by 20 inches. When the bill was first brought to the floor of the Texas House, Talarico called a point of order that delayed its passage. [36] The bill ultimately passed the legislature, but videos of his remarks against it went viral and led to an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience . [37]
In August 2025, Talarico was one of the 51 Democratic members of the Texas House who left the state to participate in the quorum bust in order to delay the passage of new congressional maps. [38]
Personal life
Talarico is a "deeply religious" Christian and was raised Presbyterian. [3] He is active in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin. [48]
Talarico is an outspoken critic of Christian nationalism, calling it "a cancer on our religion", [49] and has often said "There's nothing Christian about Christian nationalism". [50] He has cited his faith and the teachings of Jesus, especially the commandment to love one's God and neighbor, as the reason for launching his political career. He has called politics "another word for how we treat our neighbors". [2] Talarico has called Christian nationalism "the worship of power—social power, economic power, political power, in the name of Christ" and has accused Christian nationalists of turning Jesus "into a gun-toting, gay-bashing, science-denying, money-loving, fear-mongering fascist", arguing that it is "incumbent on all Christians to confront it and denounce it" in a 2023 guest sermon that racked up more than 1 million views on YouTube. [51] In July 2025, Talarico appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience and discussed the influence of faith on his political career. [52]
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