Over the past week, Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has picked up an unflattering nickname: “Low-T Talarico.” Judging by the reaction, it appears to have struck a nerve. A wave of ads and online criticism has highlighted his positions on gender issues and religion. At the same time, some critics have even taken aim at his dietary choices, fueling speculation and innuendo about his personal life.
The scrutiny intensified after Fox News host Jesse Watters openly wondered whether Talarico even had a girlfriend, prompting one of his co-hosts to joke, “Does she live in Canada?” Apparently deciding the rumors had gone far enough, Talarico’s campaign moved quickly to put the matter to rest.
It didn’t work.
Talarico’s “girlfriend” has been revealed to be 30-year-old Brianna Menard. She's a vegan political advocate and former staffer who currently lobbies for the Texas Medical Association. Her Wheatsville Food Co-op board bio paints quite a picture: committed vegan, yoga enthusiast, cat owner, and fan of "dancing the night away" at Cheer Up Charlies, a well-known gay bar in Austin.
It's not entirely clear if that's where the two of them met.
Talarico's campaign had previously declined to identify Menard by name or share any details about her, even as speculation mounted. Then, suddenly, the whole story drops. The timing is being called into question, with many suspecting Texas Democrats got a look at some recent polling numbers on their Senate candidate and decided it was time to act fast.
Nothing like a girlfriend reveal to change the conversation.
According to the New York Post, Menard and Talarico first crossed paths in 2022 when she joined his legislative office as a staffer. The relationship didn't turn romantic until January 2023, around the same time she left his team to become chief of staff to state Rep. Salman Bhojani. Bhojani later confirmed on Facebook that she joined his staff, which at least puts her in the public record as a real, documented human being, something Talarico's campaign had been rather cagey about for some reason.
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She's since moved into lobbying for the Texas Medical Association, where she focuses on healthcare affordability and early childhood issues. The association, for its part, has sparred with Republicans over its support for puberty blockers and gender-affirming care for minors, while simultaneously endorsing Republican Sen. John Cornyn over Ken Paxton in the 2026 primary and cutting checks to Republican campaigns. Make of that what you will.
Menard's profile couldn't be more perfectly curated for a "picture-perfect" Austin leftist. Meanwhile, Talarico is still trying to shake the Low-T perception. His spokesman, JT Ennis, came to his defense, saying, "James is not and never has been a vegan, much to his girlfriend's chagrin. As the saying goes, true love conquers all."
Touching.
Of course, in 2022, Talarico was bragging about something a little different. "I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign," he said at the time. "We are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses."
It’s funny how things change for a statewide campaign. Suddenly, you’re pro-meat, have a girlfriend, and you’re walking back years of LGBTQ propaganda.
The defensiveness is hard to miss.
