7 Surprising Facts About James Talarico, Democratic Candidate for US Senate in Texas (2 of 4)

2. He is a Seminary Student Who Uses Scripture to Counter Christian Nationalism

Most Democrats avoid discussing religion when discussing policy, but Talarico is a refreshing exception. In fact, he leans fully into it. A devout Presbyterian enrolled at the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he is seeking a PhD in Theology studies, he made national headlines in 2023 when he dismantled a proposed mandate requiring the Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms. Rather than focusing on the secular arguments that many in his political party would make, he cited the Gospels to argue that state-enforced faith is anti-Christian idolatry.

3. He Flipped a Long-Held Red District Before He was 30

When Talarico first ran for the Texas House of Representatives in 2018, he targeted House District 52 in suburban Williamson County, a seat that had been held by Republicans for decades. Running on education and local community infrastructure, he pulled off an upset victory, becoming one of the youngest members of the Texas Legislature at 29 years old. His reelection campaign in 2020 was a nailbiter (he won by less than 1%), but his 2022 victory was such a landslide (he garnished 76.8% against Republican and Libertarian opponents) that nobody ran against him in 2024.