Texas Politics: Talarico Joins SNL After Senate Victory
The senator-elect broke character on the comedy sketch to joke about his campaign donations and his plans for bipartisan cooperation.
By Anthony Lawson ·
James Talarico made a surprise live appearance on Saturday Night Live following his victory in the U.S. Senate race in Texas. The former state lawmaker and seminarian defeated Republican candidate Ken Paxton on Tuesday. This win was part of a broader Democratic sweep that saw the party take control of both chambers of Congress and support Gina Hinojosa’s upset win over Governor Greg Abbott.
The show’s cold open featured Kenan Thompson as Representative Hakeem Jeffries and Sarah Sherman as Senator Chuck Schumer. Sherman’s character asked, "Do we even know how to lose?" Thompson’s character responded, "Yes," but proposed a toast to the wins. He noted, "We flipped the House, we flipped the Senate, and how did we do it?"
James Austin Johnson, playing President Donald Trump, crashed the celebration. He labeled the Democratic victory wave a "blue Toonami," a reference to a late-night anime block on Cartoon Network. Johnson said he accepted the election results, calling the decision "almost scarier in a way." He stated his next plan was simply "Ballroom."
Trump’s character referred to Talarico as "Talafreako" and said he hoped voters enjoyed the outcome. Talarico then stepped into the spotlight to loud applause from the New York City studio audience. He introduced himself with the line, "I’m James Talarico, the guy who’s been texting you every day asking for $5."
Johnson responded, "In this economy, who can blame you?" Talarico, who campaigned on wealth disparity and political corruption, said he hoped to work with the president to "make life better for everyday Americans." He added, "It’s clear people want something new. They want something different. I’m talking of course, about SNL’s cold opens."
Talarico asked the audience how many more Trump-focused sketches the show would run. Johnson answered, "Infinity." The two then joined voices to deliver the show's standard introduction, "Live from New York .." The episode aired on NBC, a network owned by the same parent company as NBC News.
