Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unloaded at the Texas Republican convention, framing James Talarico as someone who has taken the Bible into politics in a way that, in Patrick’s words, amounts to blasphemy and spiritual danger. Talarico’s record as a part-time seminarian and his recent attempts to soften his image have made this race a raw culture fight, and both sides are leaning hard into faith, identity, and the courts. The contest between the candidates is tight, the rhetoric is sharp, and voters are watching whether theology or temperament will decide the outcome.
Patrick told the crowd he was responding to Talarico’s own decision to make religion central to his campaign. “it’s James Talarico who decided to bring the Bible into this election — and let me tell you, that’s not a Bible I’ve ever read. I’ve never seen so much blasphemy from anyone running for office.” That charge was framed as a warning about the stakes of faith in public life and a call to push back.
‘That’s the darkness.’ That short, sharp line became a refrain for Patrick and his allies as they cast Talarico as an ideological outlier not just on policy but on core cultural convictions. To Republicans who see faith as the backbone of civic order, this rhetoric lands with real force.
James Talarico is a part-time Presbyterian seminarian whose public statements and past actions have fueled the controversy. He has attempted to use Scripture in service of pro-choice arguments, preached at a church that treats abortion as a positive good, and protested the public display of the Ten Commandments, all of which has deepened suspicion among social conservatives.
He also drew fire for theological takes many conservatives find unsettling, at times describing the beginning of the “story of Jesus” as an “extraordinary act of feminism” and arguing for keeping the Bible out of schools . He criticized curricula that he says “elevate[s] Christianity over the other major world religions” as “deeply un-Christian” , a line that pushed many voters to question his commitment to traditional religious instruction.
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On social issues his record is just as controversial. He voted against measures that would protect children from sex-change medical interventions and has made statements about gender that opponents describe as confusing or extreme, including a claim that there are six sexes. Those positions have given conservatives ample ammunition about where his priorities lie.
Recently Talarico has made a visible attempt at image repair, posing with barbecue and insisting he’s more mainstream than some of his past comments suggested. He once clutched pearls over animal welfare and meat consumption and later tried to play that down, but the clips keep resurfacing and shape voter impressions.
Patrick did not let Talarico’s adjustments slow his critique. “Let me tell you what, I’m going to pray for that guy because when he loses the Senate race, if he campaigns against God as he’s been doing, he’s going to hell for sure. That’s what we’re up against. That’s the darkness.” That line was meant to frame the choice in spiritual terms as much as political ones.
Talarico answered Patrick on X, , with a pointed rebuke: “For decades, Dan Patrick has sold out the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable to enrich his donors. Love feels like blasphemy when you worship power.” The exchange put the contest on full display as a clash between competing visions of faith and governance.
Attorney General Ken Paxton has also weighed in aggressively, calling Talarico a threat to Texas values and even using derisive nicknames to drive the message home, labeling him “Tofu Talarico” and “Low-T Talarico.” Paxton went further in public statements, urging voters to see the race as existential for conservative values across the state.
Polls show a race that is far from settled. One survey put the incumbent up 45% to 43%, while another found the two candidates even. With margins this tight, every quote, clip, and sermon excerpt can move a few thousand votes and decide which message resonates.
For Republicans the focus is square: hold the line on religious liberty, school policy, and cultural norms, and make clear that spiritual convictions matter in public life. The weeks ahead will test whether a faith-forward critique can change minds or simply sharpen the divide.
