A prominent Democrat running for a critical U.S.Senate seat in Texas told a self-identified transgender, queer, "Latinx" podcast host that he "hates Christianity" in a 2021 interview.In a recently resurfaced episode of the "Activist Theology Podcast," James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker now running for the Senate, confided that "I always think of myself as a Christian who hates Christianity."He went on to say, "I always get drawn back into it because nowhere else, in no other political philosophy and no other economic theory do I find anything nearly as truly radical or revolutionary as the teachings of that barefoot Rabbi." Moments later, he told the podcast hosts that he believed the teachings of Christ are similar to "the teachings of the Buddha and other mystical traditions."Democrats are hopeful that Talarico will flip one of Texas’ Senate seats blue for the first time in decades, which would be devastating for the GOP’s odds of retaining its upper chamber majority.
He is running against Republican Ken Paxton, who currently serves as Texas attorney general.‘GOD IS NON-BINARY’: TEXAS DEM NOMINEE TALARICO’S PAST REMARKS ON ABORTION, RACE AND GENDER DRAW SCRUTINYDemocrat candidate for Senate James Talarico speaks during a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on May 29, 2026.(Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)Though Talarico has touted his ability to draw both Democrats and moderate Republicans, his history of controversial statements has cast doubt on his bipartisan appeal.
While identifying as a Presbyterian seminarian, Talarico has caused consternation by claiming "God is nonbinary" and that there are six genders.He also raised eyebrows in a resurfaced clip in which he called reducing meat consumption "existential" to fighting climate change.The latest comments to resurface come from Talarico’s interview with Roberto Che Espinoza, a transgender-identifying author, and Rev.
Anna Golladay, a progressive minister currently running for Congress in...