Texas state lawmaker and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appeared at a town hall event on Wednesday, a collaboration between CNN and the media organization Jubilee. Talarico, who is also a Presbyterian seminarian, utilized the platform to engage with voters directly. During the session, he emphasized a message of unity, stating that "we’re all on the same team."

The event took place against the backdrop of a competitive Senate race. Talarico used the opportunity to publicly call on his opponent, Republican Ken Paxton, to participate in a formal debate. By appearing on stage alone, Talarico highlighted the current lack of direct engagement between the two candidates. While the town hall allowed Talarico to articulate his platform and respond to constituent concerns, the absence of his opponent remained a central theme of the broadcast. The event underscores the ongoing strategic efforts by the Talarico campaign to gain visibility and challenge the Republican incumbent’s refusal to debate.