Faith becomes a central battleground in Paxton–Talarico Texas Senate race
Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are both campaigning heavily on Christianity in a tight Texas Senate race, while Paxton also courts Latino voters and right-leaning commentary attacks Talarico's record.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico have made Christianity a defining issue in the closing weeks of the Texas U.S. Senate race, offering different visions of what faith should mean in public life, according to Newsweek. NewsweekN “are making Christianity a defining issue in the home stretch of Texas’ U.S. Senate race, offering sharply different visions of what faith should mean in American political life.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Each has launched a faith coalition: Paxton's "Pastors for Paxton" has 27 leaders, largely from evangelical, charismatic and nondenominational churches, while Talarico's "Faithful Texans for Talarico" includes Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religious voters. NewsweekN “The attorney general's "Pastors for Paxton" featured 27 faith leaders, largely from evangelical, charismatic and nondenominational churches” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1The race is close: a Fox News poll released the previous Wednesday had Paxton and Talarico tied at 49% among likely voters, with Hispanic voters favouring Talarico 64%-34%, the Washington Examiner reported. Washington ExaminerR “A Fox News poll released Wednesday found Paxton and Talarico tied at 49% among likely voters, while Hispanic voters favored Talarico 64%-34%.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Centre · 1Paxton, 63, has been Texas attorney general since 2015, beat Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary, and was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 and acquitted by the state Senate. Newsweek also notes that his estranged wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, cited adultery in their divorce filing. NewsweekN “impeached by the Republican-led Texas House in 2023 on allegations of corruption and abuse of office, before being acquitted by the state Senate.”“his estranged wife, state Senator Angela Paxton, later cited adultery as grounds in their divorce filing.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Paxton has described surviving impeachment in religious terms, saying "God just delivered me". Donald Trump has endorsed him, though Newsweek says Trump jokingly called him "a pain in the ass" at a rally this month. NewsweekN ““I truly believe that God just delivered me, not because I am a great person, because God is sovereign and he does what he wants to do,” Paxton said.”“he jokingly described him as "a pain in the ass" at a Texas campaign rally earlier this month.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Talarico, 37, a Democratic state representative from Austin and Presbyterian seminary student, grounds his message in the command to love one's neighbour, arguing Christianity requires compassion for immigrants and the poor, and criticises Christian nationalism. NewsweekN “Talarico has grounded his message in the New Testament command to love one’s neighbor, arguing that Christianity demands compassion for immigrants, poor people and others on society’s margins.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Academics quoted by Newsweek called his prominent use of theology unusual for a Texas Democrat, noting Democrats have not won statewide since 1994. They named moderate churchgoers, mainline Protestants, Latino Christians and suburban voters as groups to watch. NewsweekN ““At the statewide level, it is almost unheard of,” he said.”“Moderate churchgoers, mainline Protestants, Latino Christians and suburban voters are the groups worth watching, Martin said.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Not all conservative Christians back Paxton warmly: Pastor Roche Coleman said he will "reluctantly vote for Ken Paxton" and that Talarico's denomination and pastors "do not align with orthodox Christianity". Republican critics have mocked Talarico as "Talafreako". NewsweekN ““That being said, I will reluctantly vote for Ken Paxton,” Coleman said”“Republican critics have mocked him as "Talafreako"” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1Paxton's "Come and Take It" bus tour, which opens rallies with prayer, visited Brownsville and McAllen on the Mexican border as he tries to hold Latino gains Trump made in 2024. Some of his own supporters told the Washington Examiner he is not doing enough to reach Latino voters. Washington ExaminerR “Paxton visited two cities on the Mexican border, Brownsville and McAllen, on Thursday as part of his “Come and Take It” tour. The rally opened with a prayer”““I don’t think he’s doing enough,” Bea Gossage, 54, told the Washington Examiner.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Right · 1A Washington Examiner opinion piece by Daniel Ross Goodman argues Talarico holds radical views, citing a 2020 tweet likening racism to a virus, a 2021 floor speech saying "God is nonbinary", and opposition to restrictions on transgender care and sports. It says he has since walked back or clarified some remarks, and also notes Paxton's impeachment and controversies. Washington ExaminerR ““God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is nonbinary.””“Talarico has since said he would choose different words today.”“Ken Paxton’s tenure as Texas attorney general has been defined by a series of legal and ethical controversies” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Explanatory feature on how both candidates use Christianity, with competing faith coalitions and academic commentary.
- Emphasis
- Rival coalitions, each candidate's faith language, expert views on which religious groups matter, Paxton's controversies.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on polling or on specific policy disputes behind the faith rhetoric.
- For example
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“Christianity itself has become something the candidates are contesting” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Coverage focuses on Paxton's Latino outreach in a tight race, and an opinion piece portrays Talarico as extreme and the race as one that should not be close.
- Emphasis
- Polling, Latino voter turnout, Talarico's past statements on race, gender and theology.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The opinion piece gives Paxton's controversies less space than Talarico's record and does not cover Talarico's coalition or Christian-compassion message in detail.
- Charged language
- “extremism”“gender ideology”“racial essentialism”“far edge of the cultural left”
- For example
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“His record and public statements place him at the far edge of the cultural left on race, sex, and the nature of God itself.” — Washington Examiner
“Paxton fights to keep gains Trump made with Texas Latinos” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Paxton is the Republican nominee and Talarico the Democratic nominee in the Texas Senate race.
- The race is close.
- Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 and acquitted by the state Senate.
- Talarico is a Presbyterian seminary student who speaks in explicitly Christian terms.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Talarico's faith-based politics is authentic Christianity or radical
- Centre
- Presents his view that Christianity demands compassion alongside critics who say his theology is unorthodox.
- Right
- The opinion piece calls his views extreme and his theology shoddy, wrapped in 'the vocabulary of Christian love'.
Ken Paxton person
Presents his political survival as God's deliverance and says Texas pastors know what is at stake; asks supporters for prayers, money and votes.
““I’m not here because of some great thing I did. I’m here because God delivered me,” he said.” — Newsweek
““We will win if our people show up,” Paxton said at the rally.” — Washington Examiner
James Talarico person
Argues Christianity demands compassion for immigrants, the poor and outcasts; has said he would word some past remarks differently and walked back his claim about six biological sexes.
““Scripture says you can’t love God and hate other people,” Talarico said in a sermon posted online.” — Newsweek
“he had “missed the mark”” — Washington Examiner
Donald Trump person
Has endorsed Paxton and is described as his loyal ally, though he joked about him being 'a pain in the ass'.
“rewarded that loyalty with a high-profile endorsement in the Senate race” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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How Christianity Became a Battleground in the Texas Senate Race
Neutral Even-handed feature presenting both candidates' faith appeals with expert and pastor voices.
Right2 articles
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Paxton fights to keep gains Trump made with Texas Latinos
Neutral Campaign-trail report on Paxton's Latino outreach, with supporters voicing doubts.
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Washington ExaminerR · · Opinion
James Talarico’s extremism and the Texas race that should not be close
Critical Opinion piece depicting Talarico as radical and arguing his competitiveness reflects Paxton's liabilities and media indulgence.
- 25 Oct 09:00 First NewsweekN How Christianity Became a Battleground in the Texas Senate Race
- 25 Oct 10:00 +1h Washington ExaminerR Paxton fights to keep gains Trump made with Texas Latinos
- 25 Oct 18:00 +9h Washington ExaminerR James Talarico’s extremism and the Texas race that should not be close Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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