{"id":2581451,"date":"2026-03-18T17:27:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T21:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/talarico-posts-photo-eating-meat-after-gop-vegan-allegations\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T17:30:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T21:30:51","slug":"talarico-posts-photo-eating-meat-after-gop-vegan-allegations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/talarico-posts-photo-eating-meat-after-gop-vegan-allegations\/","title":{"rendered":"Talarico posts photo eating meat after GOP vegan allegations"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftalarico-posts-photo-eating-meat-after-gop-vegan-allegations%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2581451&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Texas state Rep. James Talarico drew republican backlash after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-pd-under-investigation-after-it-likes-travis-tritt-tweet-slamming-bud-lights-partnership-with-dylan-mulvaney\/\" title=\"Chicago PD Under Investigation After It \u2018Likes\u2019 Travis Tritt Tweet Slamming Bud Light\u2019s Partnership With Dylan Mulvaney\">photo surfaced showing<\/a> him <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heartland-republicans-unite-to-defend-meat-against-liberal-attack\/\" title=\"Heartland ... Unite to Defend Meat Against Liberal Attack\">eating meat<\/a>, reigniting scrutiny of his past \u201cnonmeat\u201d campaign tied to climate-change activism. The article notes a 2022 video in which Talarico explained his vegan stance and that his campaign had become nonmeat, with his spokesman countering the narrative in a tongue-in-cheek response. Despite the controversy, Talarico advanced to the general election in the Texas Senate race, set to face John Cornyn or Ken Paxton after defeating Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary. GOP figures including Cornyn, Cruz, Roy, and Gill mocked his meat-free past, and the national party even posted a satirical cover in response. Trump has not endorsed either candidate yet, though NBC News reports he is leaning toward cornyn, suggesting either GOP candidate could defeat a perceived weak Talarico.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">James Talarico posts photo eating meat after GOP rips &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tim-scott-to-seek-third-term-in-senate-abandoning-term-limit-commitment\/\" title=\"Tim Scott to seek third ... in Senate, abandoning ...-limit commitment\">nonmeat campaign<\/a>&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2536396\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas<\/a> state Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17710\">James Talarico<\/a> has come under fire from Republicans this week over his past comments on dialing back &ldquo;meat consumption&rdquo; as he runs for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Talarico campaign spokesman JT Ennis released a tongue-in-cheek image to debunk the narrative that the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >state lawmaker hates meat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4496444\/tim-scott-run-third-term-senate-2028\/\">Tim Scott to seek third term in Senate, abandoning term-limit commitment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4494797\/mike-rogers-sentinel-action-fund-endorsement\/\">Mike Rogers gets $15 million cash boost with Sentinel Action Fund endorsement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4495333\/neither-john-cornyn-ken-paxton-drop-out-runoff-deadline-texas-senate\/\">Neither John Cornyn nor Ken Paxton drop out before runoff deadline for Texas Senate<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Official statement from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jamestalarico?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@JamesTalarico<\/a> on vegan accusations <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pLwtlknBYj\">pic.twitter.com\/pLwtlknBYj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; JT Ennis (@jt_ennis) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jt_ennis\/status\/2034320270694011071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The photo featured Talarico eating cooked meat by hand as fried foods lay on the table in front of him. No words were included in the press release.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Bobby_LaVallley\/status\/2034003528516051016\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Bobby_LaVallley\/status\/2034003528516051016\">resurfaced video<\/a> from 2022, Talarico explained that his campaign at the time went vegan to fight <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/climate-change\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"289\">climate change<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have heard, I think, heard more and more issues of animal welfare. I think, not just because it&rsquo;s the right thing to do, and it&rsquo;s the moral thing to do, but also it&rsquo;s, as all of you know, necessary to fight climate change. It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption and that we try to respect animals in all aspects of society,&rdquo; he said during a fundraiser for laws fighting animal abuse.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a nonmeat campaign,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The footage spread quickly on social media in recent days after the Texas Democrat defeated Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jasmine-crockett\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"9855\">Jasmine Crockett<\/a> (D-TX) in the state&rsquo;s Democratic Senate primary earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>Many Texas Republicans rushed to mock his past comments.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Vote Republican this November. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JohnCornyn\/status\/2034041530709688360\">steaks couldn&rsquo;t be higher<\/a>,&rdquo; Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"965\">John Cornyn<\/a> (R-TX), whose seat Talarico is seeking to grab, wrote in a cheeky post.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) said Talarico&rsquo;s prior nonmeat campaign is &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/chiproytx\/status\/2034104932408684608\">unelectable<\/a>&rdquo; in the Lone Star State, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) claimed the state lawmaker &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tedcruz\/status\/2034127614604886153\">wants to BAN BBQ<\/a>&rdquo; for all Texans. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) pointed to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/realBrandonGill\/status\/2034039948060348843\">other radical opinions<\/a> held by Talarico that make him unfit to serve Texas at the federal level.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Talarico wants to represent Texas but is anti-meat, anti-gun, anti-oil, thinks white people are inherently racist, that God is &lsquo;non-binary,&rsquo; and that the Bible justifies abortion,&rdquo; Gill posted on X.<\/p>\n<p>The national GOP account on X <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GOP\/status\/2034333715774484832\">directly responded<\/a> to the Talarico campaign with a statement of its own, posting an edited <em>Now That&rsquo;s What I Call Music!<\/em> cover that reads &ldquo;Now! That&rsquo;s What I Call A Man.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4495333\/neither-john-cornyn-ken-paxton-drop-out-runoff-deadline-texas-senate\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4495333\/neither-john-cornyn-ken-paxton-drop-out-runoff-deadline-texas-senate\/\">NEITHER JOHN CORNYN NOR KEN PAXTON DROP OUT BEFORE RUNOFF DEADLINE FOR TEXAS SENATE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Despite the viral outrage over his nonmeat stance, Talarico is advancing to the general election. In November, he will face Cornyn or Texas Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4370\">Ken Paxton<\/a>, depending on who wins the May runoff election.<\/p>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> has yet to endorse either Cornyn or Paxton in the race, but initial reports suggest he is leaning more toward the sitting senator. In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/trump-cornyn-paxton-endorsement-texas-senate-race-rcna263483\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/trump-cornyn-paxton-endorsement-texas-senate-race-rcna263483\">recent interview<\/a> with NBC News, Trump expressed confidence in the electability of both GOP candidates, saying he thinks either would win against a &ldquo;weak&rdquo; Talarico.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Talarico posts meat-eating pic amid &#8216;nonmeat&#8217; flap<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2581452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26064069882426.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[6203,76099,5894,68501,27430],"class_list":["post-2581451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-gop","tag-meat-eating","tag-politics","tag-talarico","tag-veganism"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26064069882426.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2581451"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2581455,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581451\/revisions\/2581455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2581452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2581451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2581451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2581451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}