Talarico walks back religion comments
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The gist
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico walked back past remarks on God and gender in a Fox.
The reversal hands Republicans a fresh line of attack on his faith and record.
Background
Talarico is a progressive Democrat and Presbyterian seminary student running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, campaigning openly on his religious faith. He had previously opposed GOP bans on transgender student-athletes and said in 2021 that there are six genders. In a Fox News interview on the day of the Republican midterm convention, he said those comments 'missed the mark' and that there are two sexes.
How it unfolded
- Apr 2021During a Texas House committee debate, Talarico said there are six genders and opposed a bill requiring students to play on teams matching their birth certificate.
- Sep 9, 2026In a Fox News interview, Talarico walked back the six-genders remark and his past opposition to transgender sports bans, citing 'safety' and 'fairness'.
- Sep 9, 2026At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized Talarico's faith, saying he 'calls himself a Christian who hates Christianity.'
- Sep 10, 2026Republicans denounced Talarico's comments as contrary to his legislative record and not to be trusted.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Ken Paxton said Talarico 'calls himself a Christian who hates Christianity' and questioned his past statements on God and gender.
- Party
- Republicans called Talarico's walk-back contrary to his legislative record and said he should not be trusted.
- Caution
- Kim Chasby Jones of the Independent Council on Women's Sports said Talarico is redefining 'fair and safe' and that more direct questions are needed.
- Support
- Talarico said his comments were clipped out of context to distract from Ken Paxton's record, and that his point was that human categories cannot define God.
Still unverified
Talarico's claim that his comments were clipped out of context to distract from Ken Paxton's record is his own assertion; the material does not independently confirm it.