Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D-Texas) fired back Tuesday after Republicans repeatedly mocked him as a vegan, delivering a sharp response that quickly gained traction online as the Texas Senate race intensifies.

“I’m an eighth-generation Texan,” Talarico said during an appearance on The MeidasTouch Podcast. “I’ve been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton’s first indictment.”

The remark targeted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-Texas), whose yearslong legal controversies have become a central issue in the state’s closely watched Senate race. Paxton recently defeated Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in a bruising Republican primary that exposed deep divides between establishment Republicans and President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.

Paxton has increasingly aimed personal attacks at Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker viewed by many Texas Democrats as a rising figure capable of energizing younger voters.

“We know that James Talarico would never come here because he doesn’t eat any of that stuff,” Paxton said at a campaign event. “We never had a U.S. senator who didn’t eat meat, especially Texas barbecue.”

President Donald Trump amplified similar claims earlier this month while discussing the Texas race with reporters.

“Texas doesn’t like vegans,” Trump said.

Talarico has repeatedly denied he is vegan and used the latest attacks to argue Republicans are struggling to define him politically ahead of November’s general election.

“If all they have on me is lying about me being a vegan, I feel pretty good about our chances this November,” Talarico said.

The exchange comes as Paxton attempts to unify Republicans following a bitter primary battle against Cornyn, who had represented Texas in the Senate for more than two decades. Trump’s endorsement of Paxton became a turning point in the race and underscored the former president’s continued influence inside the GOP.

At the same time, Democrats have tried to capitalize on Paxton’s legal troubles. Paxton was indicted in 2015 on felony securities fraud charges tied to allegations that he misled investors. He was also impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023 on accusations including bribery and abuse of office, though he was later acquitted by the Texas Senate.

Talarico’s response on Tuesday appeared carefully crafted to blend humor with a broader political message about Texas identity. Within hours, clips of the interview circulated widely across social media platforms, drawing attention from both Democratic activists and conservative commentators.