Following Townhall’s exclusive report that Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico had used his position to help his abortion lobbyist girlfriend secure a taxpayer-funded job in the Texas Legislature, Townhall requested comment from the Talarico campaign to ask if the candidate had ever pursued a romantic relationship from any other of his staffers.
Talarico has said that he has been in a committed relationship with his former chief of staff Brianna Menard for four years, despite her only leaving his employ just three and a half years ago.
Further, statements from Rep. Salman Bhojani showed that Talarico had reached out to his colleague “shortly after” he won his March primary in 2022 to help secure Menard a job. The Talarico campaign has stated that Menard only left Talarico’s office after the two “developed feelings” for one another so that they could date. Around the same time, Menard would post an erotic sung poem onto her Instagram about a mystery individual.
A 2022 Texas Tribune interview with Salman Bhojani reveals that James Talarico used his position to secure a taxpayer-funded job for his soon-to-be girlfriend Brianna Menard. The Talarico campaign has acknowledged that Menard left his staff so that they could date. pic.twitter.com/V0t2LRAL1r
— Joe Chalfant (@JoeChalfant) May 30, 2026
In a now-scrubbed Instagram post, Menard uploaded an erotic sung poem about a mysterious individual in March 2022, after she had begun working in Talarico's office. The date closely aligns with Talarico's statement about the pair having dated for four years. https://t.co/OMtkx0198T pic.twitter.com/z75khKw4BG
— Joe Chalfant (@JoeChalfant) May 30, 2026
Menard would not join Bhojani’s staff until January of 2023, ten months after the two apparently acknowledged their feelings for one another.
Townhall’s requests were met with radio silence from the Talarico campaign, who refused to deny that any other problematic romantic pursuits may have occurred in the Talarico office.
Likewise, the Texas political outlet Texas Scorecard had asked the Talarico campaign similar questions. The Talarico campaign outright refused to answer their questions over the ethical considerations of a registered lobbyist dating an elected official, or whether or not employer-employee relationships were common practice for the public official.
Talarico will face off against Republican nominee Ken Paxton for control of the Senate seat in November.