Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico may not have any musical talents (that we know of, at least), but he’s become the most coveted special guest in country music of late. On Oct. 17, Talarico joined the Chicks at their San Antonio date, following appearances in the crowd at Kacey Musgraves‘ Dallas show earlier this month and backstage at Willie Nelson’s annual 4th of July Picnic (the legendary artist also just gave the candidate his official endorsement). All three artists are from Texas, naturally, where Talarico currently holds a very slight lead over Attorney General Ken Paxton, in an extremely tight race. But if country cred were on the ballot, he’d have this in the bag.
Talarico’s appearance in San Antonio with the Chicks was particularly special, he told the crowd, since he used to teach sixth grade at a local middle school. He is also apparently a big Chicks fan. “I have loved the Chicks for as long as I can remember,” Talarico said as he joined the band onstage to massive applause. “Their music, their songwriting, their harmonies. But also what they represent. First and foremost, Texas excellence. We are so proud that the Chicks are from Texas. But also courage, conviction, and a willingness to speak truth to power. In a time when too many artists sell out, the Chicks remind us when given a voice, we have a responsibility to use it.… They are the best of country music. They are the best of Texas. They are the best of us.”
By saying “we are so proud that the Chicks are from Texas,” Talarico wasn’t just lobbing praise. He was likely nodding to the famous incident onstage in London in 2003, when the Chicks’ Natalie Maines proclaimed during a show that she was “ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.” Though the group was immediately pushed off country radio and even became subject to death threats, they have never backed down from their passionate activism and beliefs. On their Taking the Long Way anniversary tour, they’ve been rallying concertgoers to vote in the upcoming midterms.
As for Paxton, he’s yet to score any major country support, despite former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem trying to claim Ella Langley. “I’ll take [Ella Langley] over Kacey Musgraves any day,” Noem posted on X after Talarico’s appearance at Musgraves’ concert. “And if I’m choosin’ Texas, I’ll take Ken Paxton over James Talarico.” Langley has made no indication of her politics or preferred candidate either way — and isn’t even from Texas to begin with, proving that not only is Noem jobless, but she seems to boast poor media literacy. Musgraves‘ perfectly MAGA-trolling reply, though? “I don’t think you have a dog in this fight, but if you did, you would have shot it.”
What Paxton does have on his side is Elon Musk, in an awkward cowboy hat, who has been pumping a reported $190 million into the Texas Senate race. And, for what it’s worth, Musk apparently prefers dance and EDM to country.
