US Vice President JD Vance Joked about Senate Candidate James Talarico's Sexuality during Texas Rally

On October 13, 2026, speaking at a campaign rally in Tyler, Texas, in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton, U.S. Vice President JD Vance made a joke questioning the sexual orientation of Paxton’s Democratic opponent, Texas State Representative James Talarico.

According to LGBTQ+ news outlet The Washington Blade, the remark occurred during Vance’s address in front of Air Force Two. When a supporter in the crowd shouted “I love you,” the Vice President responded from the podium: “I love you, too, sir. In a totally platonic way, to be clear. I’m the vice president, not James Talarico.”

The comment prompted widespread discussion and swift criticism from political commentators, reporters, and advocacy groups. Billy Binion, a reporter for the libertarian magazine Reason, criticized the joke on social media, describing attempts by high-ranking leaders to use innuendo about an opponent’s perceived sexual orientation as a petty and desperate line of attack. Online, critics also responded by recirculating vintage college-era photos of Vance wearing a blonde wig. Talarico, who has been in a four-year relationship with his former chief of staff Brianna Menard, does not identify as gay; however, he has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ equality in Texas, frequently stating his commitment to defending same-sex marriage rights against government encroachment. Meanwhile, Vance’s critics pointed to his own legislative record in the U.S. Senate, where he voted against the Respect for Marriage Act and sponsored federal legislation to criminalize gender-affirming medical care for minors.

The 2026 Texas Senate race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic Representative James Talarico is one of the most closely watched contests in the United States, as Democrats seek their first victory in a statewide Texas Senate election since 1988, with polls showing a tight margin.

Previously, Uránia reported on how James Talarico faced scrutiny over his campaign’s evolving stance on the federal Equality Act. The publication also covered comedian Dave Chappelle using a homophobic slur during a routine referencing JD Vance, as well as strategic debates among Democrats over LGBTQ+ policies ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.