State Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin), the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, described himself as “a Christian who hates Christianity” in a resurfaced 2021 podcast interview with a self-described “TransQueer” activist theologian.
The audio, unearthed and shared recently by the Republican National Committee’s research arm, has intensified scrutiny over Talarico’s theological views as he faces Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the November 2026 general election.
Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, made the comment while discussing institutional religion. He has previously described God as “non-binary” during a 2021 Texas House floor debate, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
