Willie Nelson, Yo La Tengo Endorse James Talarico
YLT will play a benefit concert for the Texas Senate hopeful in Austin on October 27
Democratic Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico has gained the endorsement of Willie Nelson, a well-known Texan native. Talarico was photographed backstage at Nelson's Fourth of July concert, and Nelson appears in a new Talarico online campaign video. In the video, Nelson praises Talarico, stating, "I've gotten to know James Talarico. He's a good man, who will be a good senator for the state of Texas. Please vote and vote for James Talarico."
Yo La Tengo, an indie rock band, has also endorsed Talarico. The band will perform a benefit concert in Austin on October 27, with the entry fee being a $100 donation to Talarico's senate campaign. The show will be capped at 500 people, as detailed in the event poster.
Both Nelson and Yo La Tengo have a history of political engagement. Yo La Tengo performed at a benefit for John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004 and later offered to play acoustic shows in exchange for donations to the Democratic ticket in 2024. Willie Nelson enthusiastically supported Democratic candidates Beto O'Rourke in his 2018 Senate bid and in 2022's gubernatorial run, both of which ended in defeat.
This has led to Ted Cruz making a snide remark on X, suggesting that Willie's music is great, but historically, it has been the beginning of the end for Democrat campaigns in Texas.
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