Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is facing backlash following his remarks on a podcast where he suggested that atheists might be more “Christ-like” than certain Christian members of the Texas House of Representatives.
On the “Political War Room” podcast hosted by journalist Al Hunt and Democratic strategist James Carville, Talarico remarked, “Instead of putting the Ten Commandments in every classroom, why don’t we all look inward and see how we can be more like Christ, even when it’s uncomfortable?” He further emphasized that this perspective also applies to Muslims and Hindus, mentioning their potential to learn from Jesus.
He added, “I have met many Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, atheists, and agnostics who embody Christ-like qualities more than some of my fellow Christians in the Texas State House. It’s about how you treat other people.”
Carville criticized these remarks, saying they offend anyone with “a sense of humanity,” questioning Talarico’s suitability as a candidate.
Talarico, who is running against Republican Sen. John Cornyn in what is seen as a challenging race for progressive Democrats, spoke about a growing backlash against extremism in Texas during his campaign. “I see it everywhere I go,” he noted. He explained that his Christian faith informs his actions in politics, particularly as he challenges conservative beliefs.
Addressing what he perceives as Christian nationalism, Talarico criticized how some have intertwined faith with partisanship, stating, “They’ve baptized partisanship and are calling it Christianity.” He suggested that this approach often ignores core Christian values like providing for the sick and hungry.
His comments have sparked outrage on social media. Conservatives have expressed their disapproval, accusing Talarico of having an “anti-Christian” stance. RNC spokesman Zach Kraft stated that Talarico’s comments show a disconnect with Texas values, claiming he misuses Christian principles to support progressive topics.
Talarico has a history of making controversial statements, including a previous claim that “God is non-binary.” He has also argued that biblical narratives support abortion rights, citing the angel Gabriel’s conversation with Mary as a basis for personal choice.
In a recent interview, he described how his understanding of Christianity has deepened through studying various world religions, suggesting that they all converge on similar truths about existence that remain, to some extent, mysterious.
Talarico’s campaign has not provided additional comments following the renewed critique.
