James Talarico has spent months trying to convince Texas voters that he supports the state’s energy industry.
But a newly surfaced video is raising new questions about whether that message matches his past statements.
The Democratic Senate candidate was caught on camera enthusiastically praising a climate activist organization that has openly supported policies aimed at reducing America’s dependence on fossil fuels and transitioning away from traditional energy sources.
For the hundreds of thousands of Texans whose livelihoods depend on oil and gas production, the controversy strikes at the heart of one of the most important issues in the upcoming Texas Senate race.
The unearthed footage, obtained by Fox News Digital, shows Talarico speaking during a June 2024 organizing call celebrating the expansion of Third Act Texas, a climate advocacy group that focuses on environmental activism among Americans over the age of 60.
At the time, the organization was actively involved in efforts to pressure major banks to limit financial support for fossil fuel projects while opposing the expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Talarico’s Comments Resurface
During the event, Talarico welcomed the activists to Texas and described their mission in glowing terms.
“This is the frontline in the fight to save democracy and save our planet,” Talarico said during pre-recorded remarks.
He thanked the organization for bringing its efforts to Texas and expressed enthusiasm about working alongside the group.
Later in the call, Talarico went even further, describing the organization’s efforts as “the most important work in the most important time in the most important place.”
The comments are drawing attention because they appear to contrast sharply with the message Talarico has delivered while campaigning for the U.S. Senate.
In recent months, Talarico has repeatedly attempted to portray himself as a supporter of Texas energy workers and the broader Texas energy industry while criticizing politicians who advocate eliminating oil and gas production.
That position could prove critical in a statewide election where support from moderates, independents, and energy-sector workers may determine the outcome.
Climate Activists Target Texas Energy
Just weeks after the organizing call, Third Act Texas publicly called for a transition to 100 percent renewable energy resources as quickly as possible.
The organization has also supported efforts aimed at eventually reducing LNG development and fossil fuel production along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Nationally, Third Act played a prominent role in the climate movement’s #StopLNG campaign, which celebrated the Biden administration’s decision to pause approvals for new LNG export facilities in early 2024.
The group has argued that America should move away from traditional fossil fuels and accelerate the transition toward renewable energy sources.
Those goals have sparked concern among many supporters of the Texas oil and gas industry, which remains one of the largest economic engines in the state.
Texas leads the nation in oil and natural gas production, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic activity every year.
For many Texans, debates over energy policy are not simply political discussions—they directly impact jobs, family incomes, retirement security, and local communities.
A Different Message On The Campaign Trail
While campaigning for higher office, Talarico has often sounded far more supportive of the Texas energy industry.
Speaking during a podcast appearance earlier this year, he pushed back against calls to eliminate oil and gas production.
“The idea that politicians in Washington think they can just eliminate this industry, eliminate these jobs—it’s something we’re going to have to fight against,” Talarico said.
He also criticized members of his own party who advocate ending oil and gas production, arguing such proposals are unrealistic and would cause significant harm to Texas and the nation.
Those comments now stand in contrast to his earlier praise for an organization that has championed many of the same climate-focused policies he now appears to oppose.
Critics argue the newly surfaced video raises questions about whether Talarico’s current position reflects a genuine policy shift or a strategic adjustment designed to appeal to a broader electorate.
Talarico’s Environmental Record
The resurfaced video is not the first time Talarico’s environmental record has come under scrutiny.
In 2021, he introduced legislation calling for aggressive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, including a target of cutting emissions by 90 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050.
Although the proposal left implementation details to regulators, critics argued that achieving such dramatic reductions in the nation’s largest oil- and gas-producing state would likely require sweeping changes across the fossil fuel industry.
That same year, Talarico also backed legislation that would have expanded climate change education in public schools.
Supporters said the effort would increase environmental awareness among students, while opponents viewed it as an attempt to encourage climate activism in classrooms.
Signs Of A Shift
More recently, Talarico has supported measures viewed as friendlier to the Texas energy industry.
In 2025, he backed legislation intended to strengthen LNG production through interstate cooperation and supported proposals directing infrastructure investments toward regions with significant oil and gas production.
His campaign has pointed to those actions as evidence that he supports Texas energy development.
Campaign spokesman JT Ennis told Fox News Digital that Talarico supports LNG production and has backed legislation designed to strengthen the industry in Texas.
However, the campaign did not directly address whether Talarico still supports Third Act Texas or agrees with the organization’s long-term goals regarding fossil fuel production.
Questions For Texas Voters
The controversy arrives at a crucial moment in the Texas Senate race.
Republicans are expected to highlight Talarico’s past statements and legislative record as they attempt to convince voters that his current messaging does not align with his previous positions.
Supporters, meanwhile, may argue that his views have evolved or that he supports balancing energy development with environmental concerns.
As Election Day approaches, Texas voters will ultimately decide which version of James Talarico they believe.
Is he the Senate candidate now defending Texas oil and gas jobs and LNG production?
Or is he the politician who once praised a climate activist group dedicated to transforming the energy industry that powers much of the Texas economy?
With one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country underway, the battle over energy policy, energy independence, and the future of Texas oil and gas jobs is likely far from over.
