Talarico hurriedly retracts the statement about God being nonbinary, holds Paxton responsible for cutting out embarrassing remarks.

Texas Senate Race: Talarico Distances Himself from Past Statements

James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for the Texas Senate, is working to distance himself from some of his earlier controversial remarks as he prepares to face off against Republican candidate Ken Paxton in the upcoming general election.

On a recent episode of “Pat Gray Unleashed,” the host and his team revisited one of Talarico’s most provocative claims, criticizing his sudden retraction of sorts.

Back in 2021, during a discussion in the Texas House regarding transgender issues, Talarico made headlines by stating, “God is non-binary.” He elaborated, saying, “God is both masculine and feminine, and everything in between. God is non-duality,” and cited the Bible to argue for transgender rights.

He referred to Genesis 1:26, emphasizing the plural notion of God in the phrase, “Let us make man in our image.” Talarico argued that this shows “an infinite multitude of God: masculine, feminine, and everything in between.” He expressed that transgender children are “perfect,” “beautiful,” and “holy,” suggesting there is nothing wrong with them.

This assertion faced sharp backlash, especially from Paxton and other Republicans, who labeled it as evidence of Talarico’s extreme views, which they claim contradict Texas values and mainstream Christian beliefs. The statement has resurfaced in discussions surrounding the 2026 Senate race, with Paxton using it to underscore Talarico’s unconventional perspectives on gender and faith.

In a recent CBS interview, Talarico acknowledged that his earlier declaration might not play well in the context of his current campaign. He tempered his previous remarks, explaining, “I was intentionally provocative with that remark. But what it means is that God cannot be defined by human categories.” He made a point to highlight the Apostle Paul’s words from Galatians to support his view that “there is neither male nor female in Christ,” and accused Paxton of deliberately misrepresenting his views as a distraction from his own alleged corruption.

Co-host Keith Marinak responded with skepticism, mocking Talarico and calling him “intolerable” while questioning his reasoning.

Talarico reiterated similar thoughts in another interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, admitting, “I understand that the statement was a little provocative,” explaining that he made it in response to perceived bullying from extremist Republicans targeting children who were different. He affirmed that he doesn’t find the statement theologically problematic, suggesting most Christians would agree that God surpasses gender definitions.

Pat Gray, on the panel, pointed out a perceived inconsistency among transgender advocates who claim to defend women’s rights but seem to overlook the implications for biological women in shared spaces and sports. He proposed finding a balanced way for transgender individuals to participate in sports, perhaps by creating separate categories, rather than forcing conflicts.