Ahead of Independence Day, Lone Star Liberty PAC released an ad attacking Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico after he described the American flag as a “complicated symbol.” The ad pairs his remarks with images of Americans waving the flag and ends with t
The Independence Day countdown has rarely felt this pointed for Texas politics.
On Thursday. Lone Star Liberty PAC released an attack ad aimed at Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico. calling him an “America-laster” for saying the American flag is a “complicated symbol.” The ad juxtaposes his remarks with images of Americans waving the flag. then lands on a direct counter-message: “It’s not complicated. It’s 250 years of freedom.”.
In a statement delivered alongside the ad. Lone Star Liberty spokesperson Gregg Keller framed the criticism as something broader than one sentence. “It’s clear from James Talarico’s political record he hates America. ” Keller said. adding that Talarico has “gone out of his way” throughout his political career—citing not only the flag comment. but also past criticism about his views on the Bible and the American family.
The ad also makes the comparison that Texas voters are likely to feel in the weeks ahead: Lone Star Liberty positions the race as a choice between who Keller calls a patriot and who he brands as an America-laster. “We think it’s important Texans realize this Independence Day what the stakes in this election are: an America-loving Patriot. Ken Paxton. or an America-laster. James Talarico. ” Keller said.
Talarico’s campaign pushed back with a different emphasis—turning the dispute away from whether the flag is “complicated” toward what Talarico says he believes it represents. JT Ennis. a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign. told Fox News Digital that “James believes the American flag means freedom. opportunity. and hope -– and that this broken. corrupt political system is robbing hardworking Texans of the American dream that our flag promises.”.
Ennis also turned the focus to Ken Paxton, the current Texas attorney general and Republican U.S. Senate candidate. He accused Paxton of prioritizing himself and donors. saying: “meanwhile. Ken Paxton is vacationing in Iceland for the 4th of July after he became a multimillionaire in office and ripped off Texans by abusing his position of power to benefit himself and his billionaire mega donors.”.
The controversy being attacked in the ad traces back to a resurfaced clip in which Talarico appears to be speaking from the front of a church congregation. In the clip, he says, “I often think, when reclaiming symbols, I think about the American flag. I think the Confederate flag is a symbol of treason and terrorism. But the American flag is such a complicated symbol for most of us.”.
He continues in the same sermon, saying, “In many ways, like Jesus, like the cross, it’s [the American flag] been co-opted and, in some ways, its true meaning has been betrayed.”
The flag comment is only the latest flashpoint in a larger stream of criticism Talarico has faced since rising to national attention earlier this year. He is a former middle school teacher in San Antonio and a Presbyterian seminarian. He reached the national stage when he defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for the Democratic Party’s nomination for U.S. Senate.
Since then, critics have seized on a history of controversial statements, including Talarico saying he “hates Christianity,” calling God “nonbinary,” and asserting that “radicalized white men are the greatest domestic terrorist threat in our country.”
Still, not everyone thinks the Independence Day attack will land. Eric Koch. a Democratic strategist familiar with the race. predicted the ad would backfire—arguing that the focus on one remark will not overpower voters’ impressions of Talarico as an established Texas public servant. Koch said. “this attack is going to fall flat for a very simple reason: James is a red-blooded American. an 8th generation Texan who was a teacher. preaches across the state. studies the Bible. and served his community in the legislature.”.
Koch dismissed what he called “over the top attacks,” saying they “go in one ear and out the other — especially when you are defending the Most Corrupt Politician in America, Ken Paxton.”
The question now is whether the race’s most combustible symbol dispute—played out in the shadow of July 4—becomes a turning point or just another flash of campaign noise. Fox News Digital reached out to Paxton’s campaign for comment.
For Talarico, the moment is clear: Independence Day is arriving with his words about the flag at the center of the fight, even as his campaign insists his message is about freedom, opportunity, and hope.
James Talarico Lone Star Liberty PAC Gregg Keller Ken Paxton Texas Senate race Independence Day American flag complicated symbol attack ad