Democrat Texas Senate candidate James Talarico refused to apologize to fellow Democrat Colin Allred for leveling a racial slur against him, Allred said, recalling his conversation with Talarico regarding the reported insult.
“James Talarico told me he ‘signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable, intelligent Black woman,’” TikTok influencer Morgan Thompson reported on Sunday, February 1 in a video that quickly went viral, sparking the controversy, as Texas Public Radio reported in an article at the time:
“Allred’s comments came after a political content creator with the TikTok handle @morga_tt posted a now-viral video alleging that, in a one-on-one conversation with Talarico on Jan. 12, the Austin Democrat told her he signed up to run against ‘a mediocre Black man,’ referring to Allred, and ‘not a formidable, intelligent Black woman.’
“Allred was Talarico’s main rival in the Senate primary until the former Dallas congressman dropped his bid in December as Crockett was preparing to enter the race.”
Allred is now on the November 3 ballot for a Texas House seat.
“I’m not a part of any ‘smear campaign’, I just think the responsible thing to do is share this information considering what I’m seeing from his campaign right now,’ Thompson, a Black woman, wrote in a post defending her accusation:
“I have receipts that this conversation occurred if needed.”
After media began covering Thompson’s account of Talarico’s comment, the Senate candidate spoke with Allred - but refused to apologize for the remark - Allred told CBS News Texas.
“We spoke on the phone and I offered a chance to apologize and he declined to do that,” Allred recalled:
“I think that he did not deny things, what was said, and I spoke with the young woman who it was said to, and I believe her. And, she was not a supporter of mine. She was a supporter of his. We should remember that.”
If Talarico was truly a leader, he would have apologized Allred explained:
“When you say something offensive, it’s your responsibility to apologize. That’s also the job of a leader, right? It’s to try and acknowledge any harm that’s been done and try and calm the waters, in that regard.”
“Haters” like Talarico show their true colors when they make racially-charged remarks, Allred said in a social media video he posted February 2 responding to the alleged “mediocre Black man” comment:
“Haters like this are going to show up. When we see them, we should say thank you.
“Thank you for taking off the mask. Thank you for telling us who you really are, what you really think, and goodbye.”
Hey 👋🏽 @jamestalarico — don’t come for me unless I send for you. pic.twitter.com/ryVA6irNWY
— Colin Allred (@ColinAllredTX) February 2, 2026
Allred isn’t the only Black Democrat to feel slighted by Talarico.
As CNSNews reported on Tuesday, video of an undercover recording of a Black Texas Democratic Party vice chair describing how she was slighted by Talarico, apparently due to her race, has been exclusively obtained by The Dallas Express.
Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair for Voter Engagement Sheena (King) Flanary was secretly recorded explaining how she had been disrespected and rejected by the Talarico campaign each time she offered her support - and that she didn't think Talarico cared about the needs of Black citizens.
