Texas state Rep. James Talarico delivered a forceful rebuke of billionaire influence in American politics this week, arguing that economic elites — not marginalized communities — are driving many of the country’s most pressing problems. The original remarks were spoken at a rally in July of 2025, but as the senate race approaches, Talarico reshared the video to reinforce his position. Talarico declared, “The only minority destroying America is the billionaires,” framing what he described as a widening divide between powerful political donors and everyday Americans.
.@JamesTalarico: The only minority destroying America is the billionaires. Trans people are 1% of the population. Muslims are 1% of the population. Undocumented people are 1% of the population. We are focused on the wrong 1%.
— Team Talarico (@TeamTalaricoHQ) February 23, 2026
Trans people aren't taking away our healthcare.… pic.twitter.com/fkfRMGHZeT
Talarico, a Democratic lawmaker from Austin and a former public school teacher, has emerged as a leading contender in the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate in Texas. According to Polymarket, he currently leads the field with 79 percent support compared to 21 percent for Rep. Jasmine Crockett. His comments come as President Donald Trump serves in the White House, with national political tensions running high over taxes, health care, education funding and election rules.
In a social media post accompanying a video of his speech, Talarico wrote: “The only minority destroying America is the billionaires. Trans people are 1% of the population. Muslims are 1% of the population. Undocumented people are 1% of the population. We are focused on the wrong 1%.
“Trans people aren’t taking away our healthcare. Muslims aren’t defunding our schools. Immigrants aren’t cutting taxes for themselves and their rich friends. It’s the billionaires and their puppet politicians.
“The culture wars are a smokescreen. They want us looking left and right at our neighbors instead of looking up at them. The biggest divide in our politics is not left versus right, it’s top versus bottom.”
In the video, Talarico expanded on that message, saying:
“You know, the more I see what’s happening at our state capital and our national capital, the more I think the only minority destroying America is the billionaires. Trans people are 1% of the population. Mus Muslims are 1% of the population. Undocumented people are 1% of the population. We are focused on the wrong 1%. Trans people aren’t taking away our healthcare. Muslims aren’t defunding our schools. Immigrants aren’t cutting taxes for themselves and their rich friends. It’s the billionaires and their puppet politicians. The culture wars are a smokeokc screen. So many of the divisions in this state and in this country are manufactured by billionaires who want us fighting each other instead of fighting them. They want us They want us looking left and right at our neighbors instead of looking up at them. The biggest divide in our politics is not left versus right. It’s top versus bottom.”
The remarks were part of a broader speech in which Talarico tied his political outlook to his upbringing and professional background. He recounted teaching sixth grade language arts at Rhodes Middle School on the west side of San Antonio, describing his students as “survivors, dreamers, fighters” who confronted poverty and systemic barriers. He also spoke about his mother’s struggles as a young single parent in Austin and credited Texas Democrats of an earlier generation with fighting for working families.
Throughout the address, Talarico repeatedly contrasted what he described as grassroots struggles with the power of wealthy political actors. He named figures such as Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch as examples of elites who, in his view, benefit from political division. He argued that social and cultural conflicts are amplified to distract voters from economic policies that favor the wealthy, including tax cuts and reductions in public services.
His speech concluded with a call for unity across racial, religious and cultural lines, rooted in both democratic principles and his Christian faith. He invoked the idea that American democracy is a shared promise among neighbors and argued that concentrated wealth and political power threaten that covenant.
As the Senate race begins to take shape, Talarico’s message signals a campaign centered on economic populism and opposition to billionaire influence — a theme that is likely to remain central as the 2026 election cycle unfolds in Texas and beyond.
