James Talarico's anti‑Christian remarks spark controversy in Texas Senate race

Democratic candidate James Talarico, seeking a U.S. Senate seat from Texas, drew intense criticism after a 2021 podcast clip resurfaced in which he declared, “I always think of myself as a Christian who hates Christianity.” He also described Jesus as a socialist, said God is “non‑binary,” and argued that his “whiteness” and “masculinity” limit his religious imagination. The interview featured trans‑queer Latinx activist theologian Roberto Che Henderson‑Espinoza, whom Talarico credited as a source of inspiration.

The clip was posted by the Republican National Committee amid a closely watched race between Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Recent polling shows the contest virtually tied, with Paxton at 43% and Talarico at 42%, underscoring how the remarks could affect the Democrats’ bid to regain a U.S. Senate seat from Texas.