James Talarico Makes a Surprise ‘SNL’ Cameo After Texas Senate Victory

James Talarico added a television cameo to a remarkable week, appearing as himself in the cold open of “Saturday Night Live” after his reported victory in the Texas Senate race. The sketch joked about Democrats’ wins in the midterm elections and took aim at President Donald Trump’s political rivals. James Austin Johnson, playing Trump, addressed viewers and mentioned several Democratic candidates, including Talarico, whom Trump has called “Talafreako.” Talarico then walked onto the stage to applause, turning the real campaign and its fundraising appeals into part of the joke. He poked fun at having asked supporters for $5 by text messages during the race. Johnson’s Trump replied that, given the state of the economy, the requests were understandable. Talarico then suggested that viewers were ready for something different, including a break from the show’s familiar cold opens about Trump. The pair wrapped up by joining in the program’s signature introduction: “Live from New York …” The appearance came just days after Talarico’s reported upset of Republican Ken Paxton, which secured him the Texas Senate seat. Talarico had also spoken with TMZ DC before Election Day and challenged Paxton to debate on the outlet’s airwaves, according to the report. That debate never happened, and the candidates did not hold one elsewhere either. His unexpected “SNL” appearance gave the newly victorious Democrat a chance to joke about the campaign—and the political shift that put him in the spotlight.