Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico is facing allegations from Republicans over his former consulting work with MAYA Consulting, now known as VIDA Collaborative, while he served as a voting member of the Texas House Public Education Committee.

Talarico worked as an independent contractor for the firm from 2019 through 2025, according to his campaign financial disclosure. During that period, the Texas Education Agency awarded MAYA Consulting two contracts worth $3.578 million and $1.635 million in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The contracts involved education initiatives including efforts addressing learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talarico's 2025 disclosure shows he received $83,333.40 from the nonprofit, in addition to his $13,904.92 part-time salary as a Texas state representative. The firm’s CEO, Kassi Longoria, said Talarico's consulting work was structured separately from his legislative duties and that he was not involved in securing or receiving compensation from publicly funded contracts.

Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft accused Talarico of engaging in a “textbook pay-to-play scheme,” alleging that he benefited financially while the firm received millions in state contracts. Talarico's campaign rejected the allegation as a “lie,” saying his relationship with MAYA was disclosed under Texas House rules and that his contract prohibited him from representing the firm before the Legislature or education agencies.

The allegations have emerged as Talarico continues to make corruption a central theme of his campaign against Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton. Talarico has repeatedly attacked Paxton over his past legal and political controversies, including Paxton's 2023 impeachment by the Texas House.

The competing allegations are now part of the broader contest between Talarico and Paxton as both campaigns seek to define their opponent ahead of the competitive November midterm general election.