By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
PLANO — U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico brought his “People vs. Ken Paxton” tour to the Plano Event Center on Monday night, drawing an estimated crowd of approximately 3,600 people, according to a venue representative. The event focused on public schools, affordability, political corruption and the 2026 elections.
Hosted by state Rep. Mihaela Plesa and featuring surprise guest Gina Hinojosa, the rally drew Democratic candidates, activists and organizers from across North Texas.
Attendees filled the Plano Event Center before the program began, with people lining the walls and continuing to arrive as speakers took the stage. The audience frequently responded with applause and laughter, and many stayed afterward for photos and conversations with candidates.
Collin County in the Spotlight
Mihaela Plesa opened the evening by reflecting on her 2022 victory in House District 70 and arguing that Collin County is becoming increasingly important in statewide politics.
“There used to be a time when people would sit around and say, ‘Collin County? We’ll never elect a Democrat to the state house,'” Plesa said.
Plesa later led attendees in a brief call-and-response.
“When Collin County goes blue…” she said.
“Texas goes blue,” the audience responded.
The exchange was repeated a second time and drew applause from the crowd.
She also noted that House District 70 was once represented by Ken Paxton before he became attorney general and later launched his U.S. Senate campaign.
Republicans continue to perform strongly in Collin County, though Democrats have made gains in several suburban legislative districts in recent election cycles.
Hinojosa Focuses on Schools and Affordability
Hinojosa centered her remarks on public education, affordability and what she described as a growing gap between the promise of Texas and the reality facing many families.
Drawing on memories of growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, she contrasted what she described as a once-strong American middle class with the economic challenges many Texans face today.
“There can’t be an American dream without strong public schools,” she said.
Throughout her speech, Hinojosa repeatedly used the phrase “Greg Abbott Corruption Tax” to criticize the governor’s policies, arguing that Texans are paying more while receiving less from state government.
She criticized school vouchers, rising utility costs and government contracting practices. Her comments on public schools and education funding drew some of the loudest applause of her speech.
Supporters of the state’s school voucher program argue it expands educational options for families, while opponents contend it could divert resources from traditional public schools.
Talarico Mixes Faith, Politics and Humor
Talarico’s speech blended personal stories, faith references, economic concerns and criticism of Paxton.
“There is something happening in the great state of Texas,” Talarico said. “We are building a movement to take back our state and take back our country.”
He frequently returned to the theme of service, citing stories about his great-grandfather’s military service, his father’s example of helping neighbors and his own experience as a teacher.
“The greatest among you will be a servant,” he said.
The crowd responded with loud applause when he contrasted service with self-interest, saying, “Real men serve others. Weak men serve themselves.”
Talarico argued that political corruption is a major contributor to the financial challenges facing many Texans.
“We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis,” he said.
He later called Paxton “the most corrupt politician in America” and framed the Senate race as a choice between public service and self-interest. Paxton and his supporters have rejected such characterizations and point to his conservative record in office, including work on border security, election-related litigation and challenges to federal policies. Paxton has denied wrongdoing in response to past allegations.
Talarico also leaned into humor, joking about criticism he has received during the campaign.
“They’ve called me a fake Christian. They’ve called me a radical leftist. They’ve even called me a vegan,” he said, drawing laughter.
Moments later, he added, “I’ve been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton’s first indictment,” prompting another round of laughter.
He also referenced a nickname Paxton has reportedly used for him, telling supporters, “Ken Paxton has started calling me Talafreako,” before pointing to “I’m A Talafreako” T-shirts being sold outside the venue.
Long Lines Remain After Event Ends
Attendees remained in the venue after the speeches concluded, forming long lines for photos and conversations with candidates.
TX-03 Democratic candidate Evan Hunt, who attended the rally, said supporters traveled from across Texas and stayed engaged throughout the evening.
“People drove hours to come to this event and stood happily in line for more hours,” Hunt told TX3DNews. “They were on their feet for the majority of the speeches. Then they waited for over an hour for pictures.”
Hunt said voters are looking for leaders focused on everyday concerns rather than political division.
Collin County Democratic Party Chair Jeremy Sutka described a similar scene, writing that the line to enter the venue “wrapped around the parking lot” before the program began.
Looking Ahead
More than an hour after the speeches concluded, supporters were still waiting in line for photos and conversations with candidates inside the Plano Event Center.
Monday night’s turnout drew a large crowd, but Republicans continue to hold every statewide elected office in Texas and remain the dominant party across much of the state. Whether the crowd reflects a broader shift in voter sentiment or enthusiasm surrounding a high-profile campaign event will become clearer as the 2026 campaign season unfolds.