Arkansas – “How can you say ‘if’ it endangers safety and fairness? It always endangers safety and fairness,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in response to Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico’s newly stated position on transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports.
Sanders’ comment came after Talarico told Fox News that he would oppose transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports if doing so “risks safety or fairness,” marking a significant shift from positions he previously took as a Texas state representative.
“Every sport has to be safe and fair,” Talarico said during the Sept. 9 interview. “As a former public school teacher, I care a lot about our student athletes, I care a lot about our students. And so I will oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness.”
The Texas Tribune reported that Talarico’s comments represented a reversal from his previous legislative record. As a member of the Texas House, Talarico voted against Republican-backed restrictions that would have barred transgender student-athletes from competing on sports teams corresponding with their gender identity.
Talarico defended his earlier votes by saying he had supported amendments that would have given local communities more authority over decisions involving transgender athletes. He told Fox News that he trusted local officials and communities to make those decisions rather than politicians in Austin or Washington.
“As a lawmaker, my job is to try to kind of sift through everything the bill does,” Talarico said, according to the Texas Tribune. “Sometimes there’s stuff that is really harmful, and I have no choice but to oppose the bill as a whole.”
The issue has become particularly significant as Talarico campaigns for the U.S. Senate in Texas, where he is facing Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico’s previous positions on transgender issues have become a frequent target of Republican criticism, with opponents portraying him as too liberal for the state.
His latest comments came during an interview at a politically significant moment, as Republicans gathered in Dallas for their midterm convention. The Texas Tribune reported that Talarico has been attempting to appeal to right-leaning voters while presenting himself as a populist focused on economic issues and his Christian faith.
Talarico also used the Fox News interview to walk back another controversial statement from his time in the Texas Legislature. Asked whether he still believed there were “six sexes,” a reference to comments he made in 2021, Talarico said he did not.
“I missed the mark on some of my past statements, I’ll be the first to admit it,” Talarico said. He explained that he meant there are two sexes and a small percentage of people with genetic variations, adding, “Obviously I didn’t say it correctly. There are not six sexes, there are two.”
Talarico also addressed a past statement in which he described God as nonbinary, saying during the interview that he had been trying to make a theological point about God being beyond human categories. He said he had been “provocative” with the earlier statement and emphasized his belief that people are commanded to love their neighbors.
The changes have generated criticism from both sides of the political debate. Republicans have questioned whether Talarico’s new positions are consistent with his legislative record, while LGBTQ advocacy groups have criticized his shift and argued that transgender students should be able to participate in sports.
The Texas Tribune reported that Paxton quickly seized on Talarico’s comments, pointing to his previous votes against legislation restricting transgender participation in school sports.
The debate is also part of a broader shift in how some Democratic candidates are approaching transgender issues ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The Associated Press reported that several Democrats have recently adopted more restrictive or qualified positions on transgender athletes in women’s sports, including Talarico and other candidates, as the issue becomes increasingly prominent in campaigns.
For Sanders, however, Talarico’s qualification that he would oppose transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports only when safety or fairness is at risk was not enough.
The Arkansas governor’s response directly challenged the word “if,” arguing that the safety and fairness concerns are inherent in the issue rather than circumstances that might occur only in certain cases.
The exchange adds another layer to the increasingly contentious Texas Senate race, where Talarico is attempting to redefine his positions on several cultural issues while Republicans continue highlighting his earlier statements and voting record.
With the November midterm elections approaching, transgender participation in women’s and girls’ sports remains a major political issue, and Talarico’s recent comments have placed his evolving position directly in the center of the debate.