Mark Cuban, Democrat James Talarico appear on Fort Worth panel

FORT WORTH – Mark Cuban knows a pitch when he hears one. And after hearing Democrat James Talarico’s case for the U.S. Senate, Cuban appears ready to invest.

The billionaire Dallas businessman and former “Shark Tank” star said Saturday that Talarico is offering the kind of ambitious ideas on healthcare, the economy and small businesses that Washington needs.

“I believe in him,” Cuban said during a panel discussion with Talarico at a packed Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth. “We need people like James in the Senate helping to find solutions.”

Cuban, the former owner of the Dallas Mavericks, rarely appears with political candidates. But he said he agreed to join the podcast event after Talarico endorsed breaking up healthcare monopolies to lower prescription drug prices and other medical costs.

“James nailed it,” Cuban said. “So here I am.”

Cuban never mentioned Republican Ken Paxton, Talarico’s opponent, by name. But he repeatedly contrasted Talarico’s character and ethics with those of the attorney general.

“I believe very strongly that character is destiny,” Cuban said. “When people are tested, when it hits the fan, that’s when real character emerges. When you see somebody like James, who truly is ethical, you can believe in him. You can trust him.”

Related: Talarico pitches ‘New American Dream,’ gains GOP support in Tarrant County

Cuban also praised Talarico’s economic proposals, saying, “When we send him to Washington, he’s going to be looking out for those entrepreneurs.”

Talarico and Paxton are locked in a tight race that could help determine the balance of power in the Senate. Cuban stopped short of formally endorsing Talarico, but he twice referred to “when Talarico is elected to the Senate” and said he was the leader Washington needs.

During the one-hour discussion, Talarico criticized Paxton for threatening to sue the Big 12 if the conference sanctioned former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, whom the NCAA declared ineligible after a sports betting scandal. Talarico also noted that Paxton received a nearly $300,000 campaign donation from Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell the day before making the threat.

“Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in Texas,” Talarico said. “He should be nowhere near college football, and he should be nowhere near the United States Senate.”

The conversation then turned to Talarico’s healthcare proposals, which he unveiled earlier this week. The state representative from Austin said he modeled parts of his plan on Cuban’s ideas.

Related: Mark Cuban’s prescription drug company takes shape in Deep Ellum

The “Breaking Up Big Medicine” plan would seek to lower prescription drug prices and other healthcare costs while expanding access to health insurance. It also supports proposed antitrust legislation targeting the healthcare industry.

Cuban founded the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company in 2022 to help reduce the cost of generic prescription drugs.

Cuban and Talarico also discussed the changing economy, regulating social media and promoting entrepreneurship. Talarico has centered his campaign on curbing the influence of the billionaire class and advancing policies aimed at helping average Americans.

Asked about the billionaire sharing the stage with him, Talarico called Cuban “one of the good guys.”

The two men also fielded rapid-fire questions about Texas from panel moderator and Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov.

Talarico named Lyndon B. Johnson as the most iconic Texan in history. Cuban chose former Mavericks standout Dirk Nowitzki.