Texas Senate candidate James Talarico faces scrutiny after a resurfaced interview reveals his church’s involvement in housing undocumented immigrants, sparking debate over his progressive views on Christianity and politics.
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is under fire after a resurfaced interview in which he discussed his church’s controversial decision to house an undocumented family facing deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In the clip, Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and current state representative, expressed that “Christianity is just another word for causing trouble,” while laughing about the situation.
Talarico is running against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Senate seat that holds significant importance for both political parties. The interview, which aired on Texas Impact’s “Weekly Witness” show in June 2023, featured Talarico discussing how his faith has influenced his political career. He stated that his church has a history of advocating for progressive causes, asserting, “Justice is just love out in public.”
During the interview, Talarico highlighted his church’s involvement in various social issues over the decades. He noted, “Our church was really active in LGBTQ rights in the 90s, we caught some attention by letting an atheist join our church in the 2000s, and then in the 2010s again stirred some controversy by housing an undocumented family, a mother and son, who were close to being deported by ICE.” He explained that these experiences shaped his commitment to public service, leading him to teach in public schools and eventually run for office.
In addition to discussing his church’s actions, Talarico criticized what he termed “Christo-fascism” and the religious right, which he accused of attempting to undermine democracy by imposing a “certain type of Christianity.” When asked for specific examples of Christo-fascism in Texas, he pointed to legislation requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, a law allowing schools to replace guidance counselors with chaplains, and the state’s school voucher program. He also referenced laws banning gender-affirming care for minors and Texas’ abortion restrictions.
“All these ideologies stem from this Christo-fascism movement, which, essentially, like I said, is just using faith to exercise raw political, social, and economic power,” Talarico stated. “I think it’s dangerous to all of us, but particularly to those who are marginalized and oppressed in our state.”
The resurfaced interview has drawn sharp criticism from Republican leaders. Zach Kraft, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, remarked that “despite looking like a loser, Talarico is a dangerous man.” He accused Talarico of working to dismantle border security and defund police, claiming that his policies would turn Texas into a “paradise for cartels and criminals.”
In response, JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, defended the candidate’s faith and political stance. “James is a Christian seminarian who’s dedicated his life to the teachings of Jesus Christ — fighting religious and political corruption when he sees it,” Ennis said. He criticized the RNC’s claims as “flat out lies,” asserting that Talarico supports stronger border security and immigration enforcement. Ennis pointed out that Talarico has voted to allocate billions to support law enforcement and has called for more border patrol agents, emphasizing that he believes in arresting and deporting violent criminals rather than non-threatening individuals.
Despite the Republican efforts to highlight Talarico’s controversial statements, including his remarks on gender identity and abortion, recent polling indicates that he holds a lead over Paxton. However, Republicans, including Paxton, argue that Talarico’s progressive record could ultimately hinder his political aspirations.
Madison Cercy, a spokeswoman for Paxton’s campaign, commented on the resurfaced video, stating, “In Talarico’s form of Christianity, you must be trans, you can’t support the oil and gas industry, you must support late-term abortions, and you have to let in every criminal illegal immigrant seeking asylum.” She further claimed, “James Talarico hates Christianity, and he’s said it.” Cercy accused Talarico of promoting a version of Christianity that sacrifices children to radical agendas.
After a rally in Houston, Paxton remarked that Talarico’s lead in the polls was “not surprising,” attributing it to the time lag following his primary runoff against incumbent Senator John Cornyn. “We’re still three months out,” Paxton noted, expressing confidence that highlighting Talarico’s record would sway voters as the election approaches.
The Democratic National Committee did not respond to requests for comment regarding the situation.
As the campaign unfolds, Talarico’s statements and the ensuing backlash will likely play a significant role in shaping the narrative of this critical Senate race, according to Fox News Digital.