Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat from Texas, asserted in a video shared on March 10 that Christians have a responsibility to support initiatives aimed at addressing climate change.
Talarico, who recently triumphed over fellow Democrat Jasmine Crockett in the Senate primary for the seat currently held by Republican John Cornyn, expressed his views in a clip. As a former public school teacher now studying at a Presbyterian seminary, Talarico questioned the Christian credentials of those who oppose his environmental stance. He remarked, “You can’t call yourself a Christian and destroy God’s creation with greenhouse gases.”
JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, insisted that the candidate supports the oil and gas sector in Texas. He stated, “James does not back a Green New Deal. Having benefited from funding by the oil and gas industry during his public school education, he understands its significance to the Texas economy. He advocates for a comprehensive energy strategy that includes oil, gas, wind, solar, and geothermal sources.” Ennis added that while politicians like Cornyn may halt energy projects that reduce costs, Talarico prioritizes the economic welfare of Texans, creating jobs and driving down energy prices.
In 2021, Talarico proposed the Texas Climate Action Act, which mandated states to formulate strategies to slash “greenhouse gas” emissions to 10% of 1990 levels by 2050. Ennis claimed that this legislation differed from the Green New Deal.
According to RigZone.com, oil and gas production contributed $385 billion to Texas’s economy in 2025 and provided over 476,000 jobs. Additionally, the state produces 14% of the nation’s cattle and generates $1 billion in beef exports each year, as noted by Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
Talarico has previously mentioned promoting what he called “#liberal propaganda” about environmental issues in his 2012 classroom. During a recent event, he implied that those against illegal immigration also lack true Christian values, saying, “You cannot call yourself a Christian and deny a stranger seeking asylum at our southern border.”
Ennis responded to this claim by stating that Talarico believes in “secure borders.” He emphasized that Talarico has pushed for improvements at ports of entry and has called for an increase in Border Patrol agents. Ennis argued that both political parties have failed on immigration, leading Talarico to run for the Senate to stabilize border situations while welcoming diligent immigrants.
Talarico has made various controversial remarks targeting conservative Christians throughout his political journey. For instance, during a 2021 legislative hearing, he asserted that there are six genders and mentioned that atheists and Muslims resemble Christ more than conservative Christians, which prompted discussions on social media.
When addressing a bill that aimed to limit child gender reassignment procedures, Talarico pointed out the use of scripture by some Christians to justify actions he deemed harmful to children. He reflected on that experience as a disconnect between certain interpretations of faith and moral considerations.
“In the first two lines of the Bible,” he elaborated, “different Hebrew terms are utilized for God, one masculine and the other feminine. This suggests that God transcends gender.” He cited the apostle Paul, arguing that within the body of Christ, gender distinctions become irrelevant.
