A breakfast taco order by Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico has ignited a political firestorm in Texas after Governor Greg Abbott mocked his choice on social media. Talarico, campaigning with former President Barack Obama and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa at a restaurant in Austin, ordered a potato, egg, and cheese taco, prompting Abbott to post on X: 'Potato egg and cheese? Homie is not beating the vegetarian allegations.'
The governor's comment drew widespread backlash, with many Texans defending the potato, egg, and cheese taco as a classic. One user wrote, 'That is LITERALLY the quintessential breakfast taco. You making fun shows you're not of the people.' Another added, 'My Texan mother made us potato, egg and cheese tacos before every road trip... Do you even know anything about the state?'
The controversy echoes past political gaffes over food choices, including former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio eating pizza with a fork and knife, and former President Gerald Ford biting into a tamale without removing the corn husk. It also comes nearly four years after then-first lady Jill Biden apologised for comparing the Latino community in San Antonio to breakfast tacos.
Despite the mockery, Talarico leads in recent polls. A University of Texas survey last month gave him an 8-point lead over Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Senate race, and a 7-point edge against incumbent Senator John Cornyn. The primary runoff is set for 26 May.
