Talarico’s Texas House Record Reveals Long History of Voting Against Gun Rights

As Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico continues to say he supports “commonsense” firearm laws, a look into his voting record shows a different story.

Talarico served as a Texas House representative for District 50 from 2018 to 2025. During his time in the Legislature, he repeatedly voted against measures that would have expanded or protected Texans’ Second Amendment rights.

According to Talarico’s campaign website, he says he wants to protect the Second Amendment while also protecting citizens from gun violence. He proposes establishing universal background checks for gun sales and raising the age to “purchase semi-automatic rifles with certain military-style features like high-capacity magazines.”

However, Talarico has a history of opposing several measures supported by pro-gun advocates. During the 86th Legislative Session, Talarico voted on a host of gun bills.

House Bill 1177 allowed residents to constitutionally carry handguns after a natural disaster. Talarico voted against the measure.

He likewise voted against House Bill 1791, which allowed Texans who are license holders to carry on property owned or leased by a government entity; he also voted against House Bill 302, which protected Texans’ Second Amendment right by banning “No Firearms” clauses by certain persons on certain residential or commercial property.

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Finally, Talarico voted against House Bill 3231, which modernized firearm preemption statutes at the county and municipal level.

During the 87th Legislative session, Talarico continued his record of voting against Second Amendment measures. 

He voted against House Bill 2622, which declared Texas a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” and blocked the enforcement of certain federal gun regulations. Talarico also voted against House Bill 957, which exempted Texas-made firearm suppressors from certain federal regulations.

He also voted against House Bill 1927, which established constitutional carry for most Texans to carry handguns in public without a permit or training.

During the 89th Legislative Session, Talarico continued the pattern. He voted against House Bill 1794, which allows license-to-carry holders to legally bring concealed firearms into polling locations during voting hours. He also voted against Senate Bill 706, which provides universal recognition in Texas of a handgun license issued by another state.

Talarico’s voting record is not the only indication of his position on gun rights. 

During a 2020 townhall meeting, Talarico explained his reasoning for supporting restrictive gun control laws, noting why he thinks they’re constitutional.

“A lot of politicians like to talk about the Second Amendment,” Talarico said. “Very few have actually read the Second Amendment because, if they did, they would know that the words ‘well regulated’ are right there in the text of the amendment itself.”

In the same video, Talarico also expressed support for banning semi-automatic firearms and restricting large firearm purchases. He favored an assault weapons ban, a large capacity magazine ban, and said the state “should start to think about handgun design safety standards.”

“So, probably in that order, are the things I’m most interested in championing and working on,” he said.

Additionally, during his first year as a state representative, Talarico hired Ana Lopez, the former leader of the University of Texas “Cocks Not Glocks” protest movement in 2016. 

The movement gained attention at the university after students distributed thousands of sex toys on campus to protest Texas’ campus carry law.

Talarico hired Lopez as a legislative aide to help him craft gun control legislation. During her time in his office, Lopez reportedly helped craft three firearm restriction bills. 

The bills included ending concealed carry reciprocity in Texas, requiring background checks to rent firearms at sport shooting ranges, and tightening the requirements to obtain a firearm license.

Talarico’s campaign did not immediately return the Daily Signal’s request for comment.