Texas Senate Race Centers on Beef Culture and Candidate's Diet Claims

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated Republican Sen. Paxton immediately labeled Talarico "Tofu Talarico" and called him more radical than any other candidate. President Donald Trump told reporters on May 20 that Talarico is "a vegan in Texas" and cannot win.

Talarico has rejected the label. During a May 26 interview he said he is an eighth-generation Texan who has eaten barbecue since before Paxton's first indictment.

Republicans first circulated the issue after Talarico told the Texas Human Legislative Network in April 2022 that his campaign had become a non-meat campaign and was buying only vegan products. Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn shared video of the remarks on X in March.

Talarico's campaign later released photos and videos of him eating turkey legs, barbecue, chicken and steak. His spokesman JT Ennis issued a statement with one such image.

The issue resurfaced in early May when Talarico ordered potato, egg and cheese tacos at Taco Joint in Austin while meeting former President Barack Obama. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted on X that the order supported "vegetarian allegations." Talarico told the Taco Policy podcast in September 2025 that his usual order is bacon and egg on a flour tortilla.

Texas leads the nation in cattle production with more than 12 million head, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. That figure represents roughly 15 percent of U.S. cattle production. Historians trace the state's barbecue traditions to German, Czech, Mexican, Tejano and African American influences that developed over generations.

The official state dish, adopted in 1977, is chili. >"I’m an eighth-generation Texan. I’ve been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton’s first indictment.