Joe Scarborough Swoons Over Winning Talarico: ‘A Lot Like Barack Obama’

On Wednesday’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough swooned over Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico after his primary victory over Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

Scarborough said that Talarico had “exploded onto the national stage, a lot like Barack Obama.” Scarborough unapologetically repeated the analogy: “Yes, I will say, a lot like Barack Obama.”

Scarborough elaborated:

“With James Talarico, you've got a guy that is not your father's Democrat. He quotes the Bible an awful lot. He uses it to not preach hatred and division. He uses it to preach inclusion. He uses it to talk about the importance of treating people decently, giving people hope.”

 

But Talarico’s use of Scripture can lead in distinctly progressive directions. During a 2025 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Talarico even suggested that Jesus was pro-choice, telling Rogan that Mary’s interaction with the Angel Gabriel shows that “you cannot force someone to create.”

A look at Talarico’s campaign website suggests that the Obama analogy may be apt in another way. During his Senate years, independent groups frequently rated Barack Obama the most liberal member of the chamber. Judging by his platform, Talarico is cut from the same liberal cloth.

Talarico opposes school choice measures such as vouchers, backs “Medicare for All,” and supports codifying Roe v. Wade with no mention of limits on late-term abortion. He also favors legalizing and taxing marijuana, with the proceeds earmarked for expanded government programs.

On immigration, Talarico writes that America’s border should be “like a front porch — it should have a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door.” Under Democrats, the welcome mat is always out, while the lock is hanging off its hinges.

On crime, Talarico is a classic “root causer.” He also calls for ending U.S. sales of “offensive weapons” to Israel.

In short, beneath the Bible verses and rhetoric about hope lies a platform that would be music to liberal Democratic ears. Expect the eventual Republican candidate to spend millions bringing it to the attention of voters.

Talarico twice invoked “hope” in his victory remarks, and Scarborough used that h-word in praising him.

Somebody get Shepard Fairey on the phone. Sounds like it’s time for a new “Hope” poster.

Here's the transcript. 

MS NOW
Morning Joe
3/4/26
6:00 am ET

JAMES TALARICO: The number of independents and Republicans who voted in this Democratic primary is unprecedented. This is proof that there is something happening in Texas. 

Tonight, the people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope. And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing. 

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: That was Texas State Representative James Talarico, now U.S. Senate candidate, after winning the state's Democratic primary last night against Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. 

But this morning, it's still unclear who he will face in November. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are officially headed for a May 26th runoff after both failed to secure 50 percent of the vote in the Republican Republican primary last night. That's big news. 

JOE SCARBOROUGH: And I would just say, as an outside observer, because I don't know Ken Paxton. I've never met him. I would just say the fact that a guy that has had as many problems as he has had in government, to be like Republicans, the fact that he's even close to John Cornyn, given all of his legal problems and challenges, it's just absolutely amazing. 

I will say, though, most of the energy, Willie, on James Talarico, a guy that has just sort of exploded onto the national stage, a lot like Barack Obama. Yes, I will say, a lot like Barack Obama did, who was a state senator. 

With James Talarico, you've got a guy that is not your father's Democrat. He quotes the Bible an awful lot. He uses it to not preach hatred and division. He uses it to preach inclusion. He uses it to talk about the importance of treating people decently, giving people hope.