‘A Man Must Eat Meat’

In the Texas race for U.S. Senate, Republicans frequently attack Democratic candidate James Talarico by alleging that he does not consume meat. Republican figures such as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and former President Donald Trump have referred to Talarico as "Tofu Talarico" or a vegan, respectively, despite evidence to the contrary.

Talarico has explicitly denied being a vegan and has shown his commitment to beef by posting photos of himself consuming a turkey leg. His critics base their accusations on statements he made during his 2022 campaign for reelection to the Texas House of Representatives, where he claimed that reducing meat consumption is "the moral thing to do" and that his campaign had become "nonmeat" by purchasing only "vegan products."

However, Talarico has since clarified that his current campaign "basically runs on barbecue," which is not vegan. The criticisms against Talarico's diet are believed to be less about his eating habits and more about an attempt to undermine his masculinity. Many Americans look for traits of strength and manliness in their male political leaders, and psychological studies suggest that meat-eating is associated with masculinity.

Eating meat is perceived as making men feel like "real men," while women tend to prefer men who eat meat and view them as more attractive. In Texas, a state heavily reliant on cattle production, this association between meat-eating and masculinity is particularly pronounced. Research has also found that women are more likely to identify as vegetarians or vegans than men, and even female vegans view male vegans as more feminine than meat-eating men, indicating the deep-rooted stereotypes surrounding masculinity and diet.

Politicians from both parties have made a point of eating meat on camera during their campaigns, as they recognize that this aligns with the perceived ideal of a strong leader.