Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico once described himself as a “Christian who hates Christianity.”
Talarico made the comments during an appearance on the Activist Theology podcast, hosted by the leftist theologian Roberto Che Henderson-Espinoza.
“I always think of myself as a Christian who hates Christianity, right?” Talarico said during the discussion.
Texas Democrat James Talarico: “I always think of myself as a Christian who hates Christianity” pic.twitter.com/c15B1oT1Rh
— Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) June 23, 2026
The comments resurfaced as Talarico campaigns against Attorney General Ken Paxton in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races.
Talarico, an Austin Democrat and former state representative, has frequently highlighted his supposed Christian faith on the campaign trail.
During the interview, Talarico praised Henderson-Espinoza’s work, calling himself a “BIG fan” and describing the book Activist Theology as an inspiration.
The conversation focused on topics including Christianity, political activism, race, and gender identity.
At one point, Talarico argued that Christianity could be an effective tool for advancing political causes because many Americans already identify with the faith.
“The reason I think Christianity can be powerful in our context in this country is because so many of our political opponents share that kind of, that tradition,” Talarico said.
In a statement to Texas Scorecard, Talatrico’s campaign spokesman JT Ennis claimed he was merely criticizing corruption within religious institutions rather than Christianity itself.
“The Christian seminarian who’s dedicated his life to the teachings of Jesus Christ obviously doesn’t hate Christianity,” Ennis said.
Ennis added that Talarico “is a devout Christian who fights religious and political corruption when he sees it.”
Paxton spokeswoman Madison Cercy said the remarks fit a broader pattern.
“Every time one of these comments resurfaces, James Talarico claims it’s being taken out of context or written off as another ‘cringey comment.’”
“But after years of saying the same things, Texans can see the pattern,” she continued. “The truth is he uses it as a shield to justify his crazy ideas.”
Last year, it was reported that Talarico followed a range of escorts, OnlyFans models and porn stars across his social media accouts.
His campaign later denied that he uses these services, but insisted he did not judge the women who do.
New: James Talarico follows several adult film performers, escorts and OnlyFans models on Instagram, according to an Axios review.
His spokesperson JT Ennis said in a statement that “the social media team — including James — follows back and engages with supporters who have…
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) November 8, 2025
According to the latest RealClearPolling average, Paxton holds a slender 0.8 percent lead over his opponent.
The post MASK OFF: Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico Calls Himself a ‘Christian Who Hates Christianity,’ Says God Is ‘Non-Binary’ (AUDIO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.