James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, on Thursday condemned a U.S. military operation in Iran that included an airstrike hitting a girls' elementary school, calling the strike 'sick to my stomach.'
Talarico made the comments during an appearance on 'The Briefing' with host Jen Psaki on MS NOW. He recently won the Texas Democratic Senate primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett and will face either Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton or Sen. John Cornyn in the November general election.
What the Left Is Saying
Talarico, a former educator who has championed children's issues in the Texas Legislature, said the strike contradicts American values. 'As a former educator, as someone who has fought for students and kids in the halls of the Texas Capitol, it makes me sick to my stomach to see our foreign policy take the lives of innocent children in Iran and in the Middle East,' he said.
The Democratic candidate argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and supporting democracy 'without bombing innocent school children' are not mutually exclusive goals. He also criticized what he called attempts to distract Americans from the strike through 'culture wars.'
What the Right Is Saying
The Trump administration has defended the military operation, with President Trump initially accusing Iran of striking the school before later claiming that U.S. Tomahawk missiles destroyed it.
White House officials have not ruled out additional military actions, including the possibility of a draft for expanded operations in Iran. The administration has framed the operation as necessary for national security and preventing Iran's nuclear program.
Republicans have also pointed to Iran's history of supporting militant groups in the region as justification for U.S. military action, arguing that the strike targeted what was believed to be a legitimate military facility.
What the Numbers Show
Preliminary findings from the Defense Department's investigation into the March 2026 strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school indicate that U.S. Tomahawk missiles struck the building, killing approximately 175 people, most of them children.
According to reporting by The Washington Post, outdated intelligence led to the attack. One person familiar with the strike told the newspaper that the building was incorrectly identified as a factory and approved as a legitimate target.
The strike occurred on the first day of the U.S. military offensive against Iranian targets. The administration has faced bipartisan criticism over civilian casualties, though Republicans have largely supported the broader operation while expressing concern about specific incidents.
The Bottom Line
The school strike has become a focal point for critics of the U.S. military campaign in Iran, with Talarico's comments representing a prominent Democratic voice opposing the operation. The incident highlights ongoing debates about civilian casualties in military operations and the intelligence failures that can occur in wartime.
Talarico's general election campaign will likely continue to highlight the strike as a contrast with his opponent, though both Paxton and Cornyn have supported the administration's Iran policy. The Defense Department's investigation into the strike remains ongoing, and its findings could shape future political discourse around the operation.
The May 26 Republican primary runoff between Paxton and Cornyn will determine who faces Talarico in the general election. Both Republicans have endorsed the Trump administration's Iran strategy, setting up a clear policy contrast with the Democratic nominee.