The usual shape of an argument about religion in an American campaign is one candidate invoking faith and another saying it does not belong in government. The Texas Senate race is not that argument.
Ken Paxton, the Republican state attorney general, and James Talarico, the Democratic state representative, are both running on Christianity. What they disagree about is what it requires.
The two candidates
| Ken Paxton (R) | James Talarico (D) | |
|---|---|---|
| Current office | Texas Attorney General | Texas House, Austin-area district, since 2019 |
| Background | Lawyer, statewide officeholder | Former middle school teacher; Presbyterian seminarian on leave from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary |
The election is on 3 November 2026.
What each of them actually says
Their own words, rather than characterisations of them:
Paxton has said “I truly believe that God just delivered me” and “I don’t take credit for it, it’s really by the grace of God”. He emphasises the country’s Judeo-Christian heritage, describes gun ownership as a God-given right, characterises political opposition as spiritual warfare, and argues the United States was founded on biblical truth. On religious liberty: “We want the Word of God opened, the Ten Commandments displayed.”
Talarico preaches that “Scripture says you can’t love God and hate other people” and “You can’t love God and abuse the immigrant”. He cites biblical texts in support of broader health coverage, care for veterans and protections for immigrants. He opposes displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools, describing it as idolatrous and exclusionary, and argues it cuts against religious freedom.
Notice where the disagreement actually sits. On the Ten Commandments in schools, one candidate wants them displayed and the other calls the display idolatrous — which is a religious objection, not a secular one. That is the tell for what kind of contest this is. A conventional church-and-state argument would have one side saying “this does not belong in a public school”. Here the objection is that it is bad theology. Voters are not being asked to choose between faith and its absence; they are being asked to referee between two readings of the same text.
The criticism
Speaking on Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s podcast, Paxton described Talarico’s faith as antithetical to historical Christian views and adopted from liberal theology. Reporting on the race has noted Republicans putting it in considerably stronger terms than that.
Talarico’s stated position is that his faith is central to his politics, and that the most dangerous form of religion in government is Christian nationalism.
Why this is worth watching beyond Texas
For roughly two generations, American religious-political argument has run on a settled assumption: that overt Christian campaigning belongs to one party, and the other responds either by avoiding the subject or by defending the separation of church and state.
A seminarian running as a Democrat and quoting scripture at Republicans breaks that assumption. Whether it works is an empirical question that gets answered in November, and it is the reason this race is being covered nationally rather than as a state contest.
It is also why the criticism has taken the form it has. An opponent who dismissed faith would be argued with on policy. An opponent making a religious claim gets answered with a religious counter-claim — which is precisely what has happened.
What this article is not
It is not an assessment of whose theology is correct. That is not a question journalism can settle, and anyone telling you it can is selling something.
What is reportable is what each candidate has said, in their own words, and what the disagreement is actually about. On that, the record above is the record.
Ken Paxton is the Republican candidate and Texas Attorney General; James Talarico is the Democratic candidate and has represented an Austin-area district in the Texas House since 2019. Talarico’s background as a former middle school teacher and as a Presbyterian seminarian on leave from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, the quoted statements from both candidates, Talarico’s characterisation of school displays of the Ten Commandments as idolatrous and exclusionary, his position that Christian nationalism is the most dangerous form of religion in government, and Paxton’s remarks on Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s podcast describing Talarico’s faith as antithetical to historical Christian views and adopted from liberal theology, were reported by KERA News, Houston Public Media, NPR and The Washington Post in August 2026. The election date of 3 November 2026 is the scheduled date of the United States midterm elections. This article reports the candidates’ stated positions and does not endorse either, nor does it evaluate any theological claim.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is James Talarico?
A Democrat who has represented an Austin-area district in the Texas House since 2019, and a former middle school teacher. He is a Presbyterian seminarian, currently on leave from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and is running for the United States Senate.
Who is he running against?
Ken Paxton, the Republican Texas Attorney General.
When is the election?
3 November 2026, the date of the United States midterm elections.
What does Talarico say about faith?
He preaches that scripture does not permit hating others, saying “you can’t love God and hate other people” and “you can’t love God and abuse the immigrant”. He opposes displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools, calling it idolatrous and exclusionary.
What does Paxton say about faith?
He has said “I truly believe that God just delivered me” and “I don’t take credit for it, it’s really by the grace of God”. He emphasises Judeo-Christian heritage, describes political opposition as spiritual warfare, argues the country was founded on biblical truth, and says “we want the Word of God opened, the Ten Commandments displayed”.
What is the criticism of Talarico?
On Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s podcast, Paxton described Talarico’s faith as antithetical to historical Christian views and adopted from liberal theology. Reporting has noted Republicans framing his statements in stronger terms still.
