Talarico Appears With Texas House Candidate Who Called ICE the “New KKK”

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico appeared at a Thursday get-out-the-vote event with Frederick Haynes III, a Democratic candidate for Congress, and introduced him as “your next congressman.” Talarico thanked Haynes for his remarks and community service. The source reports that Talarico has not formally endorsed Haynes.

Haynes, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, is seeking the seat representing Texas’ 30th Congressional District. The seat was vacated by Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat who left it to run for the Senate and lost that bid, according to the source.

At the event, Haynes compared the Trump administration’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Ku Klux Klan, saying ICE had become the “new KKK.” He also called for the agency to be abolished. Those remarks place him at odds with Talarico’s effort, described in the source, to present himself as a moderate Democrat able to represent a Republican-leaning state.

Haynes has also discussed racial issues in other parts of his political activity. In an October interview, he accused conservatives and the Trump administration of exploiting fears about Black advancement and said the country’s democratic institutions were being damaged. The source also says he has described climate policy as a response to “environmental racism.”

In a September 2025 address at his church, Haynes spoke about the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. He characterized Kirk’s views as rooted in white supremacy and distinguished his death from the assassinations of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. Haynes also condemned Kirk’s death and political violence, the source reports.

Haynes has voiced support for reparations, arguing at a San Francisco event that the country owed compensation for past harms. Talarico has also supported reparations. At a July town hall, he described repairing past harms as part of his faith tradition and said the country should address historical injustices.

Talarico has argued that he can combine moderate positions with an energetic campaign. In October, he said his campaign had shown a candidate could be “more moderate” and still be exciting. The source notes that he has sought to counter criticism from Republicans over previous comments on race and gender.

Talarico’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on whether his introduction of Haynes should be understood as support for Haynes’ platform or his views on race and politics. The available account establishes that the two appeared together and that Talarico praised Haynes, but it does not establish a formal endorsement.