Science educator Bill Nye endorsed Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico in September in a video promoting "Teachers for Talarico," a group supporting the former middle school teacher’s Senate campaign. The endorsement highlights a political alliance between the two figures, both of whom have argued that biological sex is not strictly binary and that children can determine their own gender identity.

Nye, known for his television program Bill Nye the Science Guy, praised Talarico’s background as a middle school teacher in San Antonio and encouraged Texas educators to get involved in the campaign. The endorsement arrives as Talarico navigates scrutiny over past legislative statements regarding gender theory and parental rights, which he has recently modified to align with his current campaign platform.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative critics and media outlets characterize the alliance as an embrace of radical gender ideology, pointing to Nye’s and Talarico’s past statements challenging the binary nature of sex. The Daily Wire notes that both figures have argued that conventional categories of male and female do not fully capture human variation. Critics highlight Talarico’s previous assertion in a 2021 hearing that modern science recognized more than two biological sexes, where he claimed, "In fact, there are six."

Although Talarico later walked back the "six sexes" comment, acknowledging in a Fox News interview that he had "missed the mark" and reaffirming that "there are two sexes," conservatives continue to scrutinize his record. They point to his opposition to Texas legislation restricting gender-transition procedures for minors in 2023 and his criticism of Republican restrictions on transgender participation in school sports. Critics argue these positions conflict with the majority view on biological determinism and parental authority.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive supporters and Talarico’s campaign frame the endorsement as a validation of scientific literacy and inclusive education. Talarico has consistently argued in committee hearings that gender and sex are different things, defining sex as biological and gender as societal expectations. In a 2021 hearing, he stated, "Sex is your biological sex based on your genitalia and the decisions the doctor makes when you’re born, and then gender is everything that we attach to that as a society."

Talarico has also emphasized the autonomy of children in defining their identity. In a Texas House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee hearing, he stated, "There’s only one person who can determine a child’s gender identity, and that’s the child." His campaign has noted that he supports parental rights and has sponsored legislation intended to protect them, while also arguing that a parent’s refusal to acknowledge a child’s gender identity can be harmful. In an April 2019 hearing, he stated, "And whether or not we label it with the term abuse, it’s abusive for sure," when discussing the denial of a child's gender identity in custody disputes.

What the Numbers Show

Talarico’s position on gender identity has evolved during his campaign. Initially, he cited scientific complexity regarding sex, but in a September 9 interview with Fox News, he clarified his stance: "What I meant is that there are two sexes, and then there’s a small percentage of people with genetic abnormalities. There are not six sexes, there are two."

According to The Washington Post, Talarico has recently expressed conditional opposition to transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports and supported banning gender-transition surgeries for minors. These positions differ from his earlier legislative actions, such as opposing the 2023 Texas bill restricting specified gender-transition procedures for minors. Nye’s 2017 video discussion on sexuality and gender noted that "by 3 or 4, most kids identify with a gender," and that "a person’s gender identity may change over their lifetime." Talarico’s campaign has stated that his recent remarks are consistent with his support for parental involvement, though he maintains that denial of identity can be harmful.

The Bottom Line

The endorsement by Bill Nye underscores the role of cultural figures in Texas Senate races, linking Talarico’s campaign to a broader progressive narrative on science and identity. Talarico’s adjustment of his public statements—moving from claims of six biological sexes to affirming two, while retaining views on the social construction of gender—reflects the strategic balancing act required in a statewide campaign. Voters will likely view these shifts through the lens of their own beliefs about gender theory, with the campaign emphasizing his educational background and revised policy positions on sports and medical procedures for minors.