James Talarico faces scrutiny over religious and social policy stances

Texas Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico is facing intense scrutiny from political opponents and religious critics ahead of the November 3 election.

Controversy has emerged regarding past remarks made during a 2019 sermon at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, where Talarico listed various figures, including Muhammad and Mr. Rogers, as “prophetic voices.” Critics, including the Lone Star Liberty PAC, have accused him of trivializing Christianity. Additionally, undercover footage featuring Talarico’s mentor, Dr. Jim Rigby, and a church minister, Rev. Babs Miller, has been released, with the former criticizing evangelicalism and the latter describing some evangelical practices as “almost cult-like.”

Talarico is also facing backlash over his positions on transgender issues. While he recently stated in a Fox News interview that he opposes transgender athletes in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness, undercover recordings suggest he maintains his previous legislative stance of fighting for transgender children.

In separate political developments, Rep. Jasmine Crockett has faced criticism from former colleague Susan Wild for excluding Talarico from her FIRE PAC endorsement list, a move Wild characterized as prioritizing personal reservations over party success.