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Political texts ask Texas voters 'Are you white?' targeting Talarico

A conservative PAC sent political text messages to Texas voters asking "Are you white?" and directing them to a website attacking Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. The texts claimed Talarico called white men "America's top terror threat," referencing a comment he made after a mass shooting about radicalized white men being the greatest domestic terror threat.

Where
Texas
When
Oct. 5, 2026
Sources
One outlet

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • James TalaricoDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate
  • American Political Action Committee (AMERIPAC)Conservative PAC that paid for the text messages
  • Rep. Marc VeaseyTalarico ally, D-Fort Worth
  • Alan GottliebFounder of AMERIPAC
  • Matthew WilsonSMU political science professor

The facts

  • Text messages asked Texas voters 'Are you white?' and directed them to attack website.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Messages claimed Talarico called white men 'America's top terror threat.'1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Talarico said after a mass shooting that 'radicalized white men are the greatest domestic terrorist threat in our country.'1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Messages were paid for by American Political Action Committee (AMERIPAC), based in Bellevue, Washington.1
  • AMERIPAC has been registered with the Federal Election Commission since 1980.1
  • Alan Gottlieb is identified as AMERIPAC's founder and a Second Amendment advocate.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Rep. Marc Veasey The texts are a throwback to racial politics of the 1980s and 1990s.1
  • Rep. Marc Veasey Messages target voters frustrated over the war and high prices.1
  • Matthew Wilson These texts are likely just the beginning of outside group spending in the competitive Senate race.1

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • Texas voters get ‘Are you white?' political texts targeting James Talarico

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, NBC News

  • Texts ask Texas voters, ‘Are you white?’ as ads target Democratic candidate James Talarico

    NBC News

Sources

Outlets: 1 left-leaning, 1 not rated Only left-leaning outlets reported this Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Texas voters get ‘Are you white?' political texts targeting James Talarico NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth Not rated, October 5, 2026
  2. Texts ask Texas voters, ‘Are you white?’ as ads target Democratic candidate James Talarico NBC News Lean Left, October 6, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

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All corrections and updates

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