James Talarico

I think a binding code of conduct for our justices is absolutely necessary.

And I'm very open to other ideas about how to reform the judicial branch more broadly, but I think it's a very valid concern people have.

In the state legislature, I led on just reform issues, particularly when it came to...

to youth, young people who are incarcerated because they are the most vulnerable members of our community, our most vulnerable neighbors.

And in fact, one bill that I was able to pass on a bipartisan basis was a bill to allow incarcerated minors in Texas to graduate with a high school diploma.

And I remember I got that bill passed through the legislature, got it signed by the governor.

And then I was invited out to Ferguson Prison in East Texas to give the first ever commencement address to the first graduates under my bill.

And I watched as the first kid, his name was Lonnie.

He was the first kid to graduate under my legislation.

And he wasn't wearing his orange jumpsuit.

He was wearing a cap and gown.

And I just saw how...

a new horizon had opened up for him and that a new world, a new future was completely possible because of a bill that I was able to pass through state government.

And so there's lots of,

ugly parts of politics.

There's hard parts about campaigning statewide in Texas.

But I've seen how when people come together, you can truly change people's lives.

You can truly transform these broken systems.

You can truly love your neighbor through public policy.

And those are the moments that keep me going, even through all the ugly and nasty parts of this.