Dem Senate candidate in the hot seat after anti-meat comment resurfaces: 'This will haunt him'

"Democrats are trying to fool Texans into believing James Talarico isn't some whacked out lib, but the clips keep coming," Andrew Kolvet, Turning Point USA spokesman, wrote on X. "In 2022, Talarico, wearing a mask, scolded Texans about going meat-free (!!) to stop climate change. This is TEXAS. This will haunt him in the general."

"That just isn't poor taste, it's political poison," Lawrence Jones said on "The Will Cain Show" on Thursday.

Talarico, a three-term state legislator and self-described Presbyterian seminarian, is seeking to unseat Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is facing an insurgent primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, in a primary battle earlier this month.

"So, I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign," Talarico continued. "So, we are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses."

Amid the backlash, the Talarico campaign blasted out a photo of the candidate wearing a Texas flag shirt and taking a large bite out of a turkey leg.

"Official Statement from James Talarico on Vegan Accusations," the campaign wrote.

Still, the hits against Talarico from Republicans over his anti-meat stance keep coming. 

"Vote Republican this November. The steaks couldn't be higher," Cornyn wrote in response to the viral clip. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also labeled Talarico a "freak" who wants to "ban BBQ."

Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico's campaign for comment.

Republicans have also spotlighted Talarico's past remarks when discussing religion and transgender issues.

Though Democrats have not won a Senate seat in Texas since the 1980s, Talarico is arguing that he is well-positioned to end that trend. His campaign published an internal poll on Friday showing him leading Cornyn and Paxton in head-to-head match-ups.