Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban joined Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico on stage Saturday, praising the state representative’s policy platform and character in a closely watched race that could decide the balance of power in Washington.

Speaking before a capacity crowd at the Ridglea Theater on Aug. 29, the former Shark Tank investor and former Dallas Mavericks owner voiced strong support for Talarico’s proposals on healthcare reform, economic growth, and small business development.

“I believe in him,” Cuban told attendees during the hour-long discussion. “We need people like James in the Senate helping to find solutions.”

While Cuban stopped short of an official endorsement, he repeatedly spoke of Talarico’s prospective tenure in Washington as an inevitability, noting that the candidate would champion American entrepreneurs. Cuban, who rarely shares the stage with political candidates, noted that he agreed to participate after Talarico rolled out his “Breaking Up Big Medicine” platform earlier in the week.

The Austin lawmaker’s healthcare initiative aims to rein in prescription drug prices, broaden insurance coverage, and apply antitrust measures to healthcare monopolies—principles mirroring the mission of the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, which Cuban launched in 2022 to slash generic drug costs.

Throughout the event, Cuban drew implicit contrasts between Talarico and his Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

“Character is destiny,” Cuban said. “When people face real tests and pressure, their true character surfaces. With someone like James, who demonstrates genuine ethics, you find someone you can actually believe in and trust.”

Talarico took direct aim at Paxton during the discussion, criticizing the attorney general’s intervention in college athletics. He highlighted Paxton’s threat to sue the Big 12 conference over eligibility sanctions against former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby following a sports gambling probe. Talarico pointed out that the legal threat came just one day after Paxton received a campaign contribution of nearly $300,000 from Texas Tech Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell.

“Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in Texas,” Talarico stated. “He has no business being near college football, and he certainly has no business serving in the United States Senate.”

Although Talarico has built his campaign around curbing billionaire influence and lifting working-class families, he pushed back against any perceived contradiction in sharing the stage with Cuban, calling the Dallas investor “one of the good guys.”

The panel, moderated by Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov, concluded with lighthearted questions about Texas culture. When asked to name the state’s most iconic figure, Talarico chose former President Lyndon B. Johnson, while Cuban picked former Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki.