Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at former President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again Rally in Waco, Texas, on March 25, 2023.
Abby Church
Star-Telegram archives
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday said state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, is “going to hell” if he continues to campaign “against God.”
Patrick was addressing attendees of the Republican Party of Texas’ state convention in Houston from the event’s main stage. Talarico, who represents the Austin area in the state legislature, is a Presbyterian seminarian.
“It’s James Talarico who decided to bring the Bible into this election, and let me tell you, that’s not a Bible I’ve ever read,” Patrick said. “I’ve never seen so much blasphemy from anyone running for office, and let me tell you what, I’m going to pray for that guy, because when he loses the Senate race, if he campaigns against God as he’s been doing, he’s going to hell for sure.”
Much of his speech and remarks from other officials speaking at the convention Friday focused on party unity after a bruising primary season, where Democrats are hoping to capitalize on what could be a vulnerable year for Republicans. It’s been decades since a Democrat has won statewide in Texas.
“We need every Republican all in, in November,” Patrick said. “Remember, it’s darkness and light. We cannot lose Texas.”
Talarico is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for Senate, in the Nov. 3 general election.
Talarico’s campaign directed the Star-Telegram to a social media post responding to Paxton’s remarks when reached for comment.
“For decades, Dan Patrick has sold out the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable to enrich his donors,” Talarico said in a post on X. “Love feels like blasphemy when you worship power. “
Patrick serves as chair of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission and has been an ally of the president, who he said will be spending a lot of time in Texas.
Patrick said Democrats accuse Republicans of being Christian nationalists.
“To me, that means I love God and I love America, and if that’s who a Christian nationalist is, here I am,” Patrick said. “That means they’re anti-Christian, anti-country.”
This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 4:47 PM.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She’s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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