EXCLUSIVE: Talarico caught on tape giggling about his church housing illegal immigrants set for deportation
EXCLUSIVE: Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico bragged in a resurfaced interview that his church had stirred controversy by housing a family of illegal immigrants who were set to be deported by ICE, laughing as he said that "Christianity is just another word for causing trouble."
Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who serves as a Democratic state representative, is running against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Senate seat that is critical to both parties.
In a resurfaced clip of Talarico speaking on Texas Impact's "Weekly Witness" show in June 2023, he credited his faith for "why I am in politics." Asked how his faith influences his politics, Talarico pointed to examples of his church advancing progressive causes, saying, "Justice is just love out in public."
"Our church was really active in LGBTQ rights in the '90s. We caught some attention by letting an atheist join our church in the 2000s, and then in the 2010s, again stirred some controversy by housing an undocumented family, a mother and son, who were close to being deported by ICE," he said. "That was the tradition that I was brought up in. It’s what led me to teach public school students on the west side of San Antonio, led me to run an education nonprofit and then led me to run for office."
"And so, again," he continued, "this idea that Christianity is just another word for causing trouble."
During the same interview, Talarico decried what he referred to as "Christo-fascism" and the religious right, which he accused of seeking to subvert democracy by forcing a "certain type of Christianity."
Asked for specific examples of Christo-fascism in Texas, he pointed to a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, another allowing schools to replace guidance counselors with chaplains, and the state’s school voucher program. He also pointed to laws banning sex-change surgeries and treatments for children and Texas’ abortion ban.
"All these ideologies stem from this Christo-fascism movement, which, essentially, like I said, is just using faith to exercise raw political, social and economic power," said Talarico. "I think it's dangerous to all of us, but particularly to those who are marginalized and oppressed in our state."
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The resurfaced clip has drawn criticism from Republicans.
Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft told Fox News Digital that "despite looking like a loser, Talarico is a dangerous man."
"He has dedicated his life to helping illegals by dismantling border security, defunding police, and abolishing prisons to turn Texas into a paradise for cartels and criminals," said Kraft.
JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico's campaign, responded by telling Fox News Digital that "James is a Christian seminarian who’s dedicated his life to the teachings of Jesus Christ — fighting religious and political corruption when he sees it because there’s nothing Christ-like about powerful people twisting the teachings of Jesus to justify hate, violence, and greed. While billionaire-bought politicians like Ken Paxton attack James for his faith — he will continue encouraging Texans across the political spectrum to come together by loving their neighbors as themselves."
Ennis said that the RNC's "attacks are flat out lies."
"James opposes defunding the police and supports stronger border security and immigration enforcement — it’s why he’s voted to send billions of dollars to support law enforcement, called for more border patrol agents, and has said we should be arresting and deporting violent criminals and human traffickers — not moms and babies," said Ennis. "On the other hand, Ken Paxton's fellow Republicans have blasted his record of abusing his office to benefit his wealthy donors and the well-connected, allowing criminals back on the street even as it made Texans less safe."
The Democratic National Committee did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Despite Republican efforts to highlight his history of controversial statements, including saying that "God is nonbinary" and that there are six sexes, Talarico leads Paxton in a recent Fox News poll.
Republicans, including Paxton, argue that Talarico's progressive record will eventually hurt him politically.
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Madison Cercy, a spokeswoman for Paxton's campaign, commented on the resurfaced video, telling Fox News Digital that "In Talarico’s form of Christianity, you must be trans, you can’t support the oil and gas industry, you must support late-term abortions, and you have to let in every criminal illegal immigrant seeking asylum."
"James Talarico hates Christianity, and he’s said it," added Cercy. "The only form of Christianity Talarico practices is one that sacrifices children at the altar of the radical trans movement and most Texans would agree."
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Paxton told Fox News Digital after a rally in Houston earlier this week that Talarico’s lead is "not surprising" given "we were three months behind" after his primary runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
"We're still three months out," Paxton continued. "And I know that when we put our resources together, when we get there, we will be able to highlight things and once the voters know the real James Talarico, not the fake one that's running right now … people will get to decide for themselves."