Texas Democrat James Talarico may not be a vegan, but his girlfriend, Brianna Menard, is. Talarico and Menard have been together since 2023, with Menard being described as a committed vegan who also practices yoga and has a cat named Zia. Talarico mentioned his partner on a podcast, praising her as his rock and best friend.

The revelation of Menard's vegan lifestyle comes in response to false claims made by US President Donald Trump and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who have repeatedly stated that Talarico himself is a vegan. Talarico and Paxton are opponents in the upcoming US Senate election, with Talarico currently holding a 3-point lead in the polls. Despite the confusion, Talarico's spokesperson clarified that he has never been a vegan, much to his girlfriend's chagrin.