Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat, voted against SB 17, a bill meant to prevent China from buying land in Texas.
Records confirm that Talarico voted against SB 17, despite previously supporting efforts to amend its text. The final version incorporated changes that critics argued stretched the legislation past its initial objectives. According to his office, Talarico opposed the final bill to keep from expanding executive power. The legislation successfully passed and officially became law in September 2025.
As Democratic state Rep. James Talarico campaigned for a U.S. Senate seat in early September 2026, online discussions surged regarding his vote on a legislative measure intended to block the Chinese Communist Party from acquiring Texas property.
Users across social media platforms asserted that Talarico opposed SB 17, with some critics arguing he abandoned his duty to safeguard local land and food resources.
(X user @EricLDaugh)
The narrative was further amplified through campaign advertisements released by supporters of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Talarico’s Republican opponent in the November 2026 election.
Official records verify that Talarico voted nay on SB 17, a measure designed to restrict foreign land acquisitions in the state. However, Talarico and other critics noted that late-stage amendments significantly altered the bill’s initial framework.
Initially, the proposal sought to ban real estate transactions involving individuals from nations flagged by U.S. intelligence as national security concerns—specifically China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
However, when the Texas House advanced the bill in May 2025, modifications granted the governor, rather than federal intelligence agencies, the authority to “determine the countries whose residents, governments and other entities could be banned from buying property here,” as reported by The Texas Tribune.
During the May 8, 2025, session documented in the Texas House Journal, Democratic Rep. Mihaela Plesa echoed these concerns, stating, “While the intent to safeguard critical infrastructure and land interests is valid, CSSB17, as amended, became too broad and open-ended. The bill now permits the governor and state agencies to unilaterally add entire countries to its prohibitive list, restricting land ownership by nationals of those countries without requiring future legislative approval or public oversight.”
A representative for Talarico explained via email that his opposition to SB 17 stemmed from a desire to prevent the expansion of executive authority. Talarico’s team issued the following statement:
James doesn’t support the Chinese Communist Party owning Texas land and his record reflects that, including by voting to stop countries like China from purchasing land near critical infrastructure like military bases. Ken Paxton is spreading lies about bills that sought to ban American citizens from buying land in this country — undermining our neighbors’ God-given rights — in an effort to distract from his career of corruption. Paxton is the only candidate in this race that has cozied up to the Chinese Communist Party, going on a lavish all-expenses-paid trip to China and meeting with CCP officials while he was supposed to be serving us. There’s a reason Republicans call him “Commie Ken.”
The legislation ultimately secured final approval and was signed into law in September 2025. Legislative records also indicate that while Talarico previously voted in favor of specific amendments protecting U.S. visa holders, he ultimately cast a dissenting vote on the final package.
SB 667 and Related Legislative Votes
On May 28, 2025, lawmakers considered a separate proposal, SB 667, directed at “prohibiting state entities from investing in Chinese-affiliated entities” to protect state pension funds. According to the Texas House Journal, Talarico had an excused absence on that day and did not participate in the final vote, though the measure passed.
Regarding other measures addressing foreign business ties, Talarico’s voting history shows:
- Yea on SB 1349, tied to the SB 17 package, which established “criminal offenses of transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law.” (House records reflect an initial nay vote that was subsequently corrected to yea.)
- Yea on SB 2116, intended to restrict “business or governmental entities from entering into contracts or other agreements relating to state critical infrastructure with certain foreign-owned companies.”
- Yea on HB 130, designed to prevent the “use of biotechnology by foreign adversary countries as a component of military power and commercial advantage.”
The moniker “Commie Ken” referenced in Talarico’s statement stems from a 2023 report detailing Paxton’s high-profile delegation trip to China to meet with foreign officials, reportedly carried out against staff recommendations.
During the 2026 Texas Republican primary, Paxton’s opponent, four-term incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn, publicly criticized the trip, launching a dedicated website titled CrookedKen.com that used the same nickname to highlight alleged ties to the CCP.
For further background, fact-checkers have previously examined additional statements involving Talarico, such as allegations that he expressed hatred for Christianity and claims regarding comments attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump.