James Talarico didn’t hesitate when a voter asked him to name his favorite drag queen in Texas.
“Oh, my gosh. Probably Alyssa Edwards,” the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate replied during a recent campaign event, naming the performer whose legal name is Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson.
The quick answer lands in the middle of a broader fight over Talarico’s past comments on gender and sexuality, including his remark that “God is nonbinary” and his 2023 praise for Texas having “some of the best drag queens in the nation.”
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In a 2023 interview with Out, Johnson described himself as “a drag performer that works with children” and said he was proud to have included his dance students in performances, including at World Pride in New York.
He also said he sees himself as a positive role model and mentor to young artists.
Talarico has faced scrutiny before over drag events involving minors.
The Washington Free Beacon reported last month that he headlined a 2021 Taylor PRIDE event in Taylor, Texas, where an 11-year-old performed in drag under the stage name Kween Kee Kee.
Promotional material described the child as the event’s “youngest” drag performer, and the festival also advertised a youth drag show and storytime activities.
Talrico opponent Ken Paxton quickly shared the clip online, asking, “What normal person can name their favorite drag queen this quickly?”
Paxton also said Talarico was “too weird” and “too radical” for Texas.
What normal person can name their favorite drag queen this quickly?
When James Talarico isn’t advocating for children to dress in drag, he’s watching drag performances and saying that Texas produces the best drag queens.
James Talarico is too weird and too radical for Texas.…
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) September 14, 2026
