Colin Allred Says James Talarico 'Declined' To Apologize Over Alleged Comments About Him: 'It's Surprising'

Former Rep. Colin Allred said he gave state Rep. James Talarico "a chance to apologize" over alleged comments about him being a "mediocre black man," but he "declined to do that."

"It is surprising. I think it's the easiest thing to do in this situation. Say, listen, whatever, you can even say. 'I feel like that's not how the conversation went, but either way, I apologize for the offense that was given,' which I think would have been the right thing to do," Allred said, according to CBS News.

Talarico has disputed the claim, initially made by a TikTok user identified as Morgan. She said the state lawmaker "told me that he signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable and intelligent black woman."

Talarico, on his end, said the remark was a "mischaracterization of a private conversation." "In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred's method of campaigning as mediocre - but his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race," he added.

The lawmaker also reacted to Allred's latest claim about him not wanting to apologize, saying: "I respect Congressman Allred. I called him to convey that respect personally and reiterate that I would never attack him on the basis of race."

He also weighed in on the issue on Saturday morning during a campaign stop in Dallas: "I know things are getting tense in the primary. I know that. I'm doing my best to try to keep things as calm as possible."

Allred, however, said he spoke with the woman who made the claim that stirred controversy and believes her. "She's a supporter of his. We should remember that. And it would not have been upsetting to her to hear a commentary on a campaign. It was the formulation of, you know, the race and also talking specifically about me. That was what upset her. And somebody who felt very strongly that, and she had to come forward and tell people that she had had this experience."

Talarico's contender in the primary to be the Democratic candidate in the upcoming U.S. Senate race, Jasmine Crockett, said on Monday that "as a political candidate, before my opponent responded, I absolutely stuck with the 'allegedly' type of language." However, she then said the explanation doesn't add up. "Oh, you said it. Right? Because, now, it's 'oh, she misinterpreted.' Because of course the Black woman would misinterpret, right?"

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