Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said Friday that Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico would “go to hell” over his interpretation of the Bible, escalating a fight over religion in one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 midterms.
Speaking at the Republican Party of Texas’ convention in Houston, Patrick accused Talarico—a Democratic state representative and Presbyterian seminarian—of bringing religion into the campaign and misusing Christianity as part of his political messaging.
Talarico, who hopes to be the first Democrat elected to statewide office in Texas in over 30 years, is running against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who also spoke at the GOP convention. Democrats have pointed to a potentially favorable national environment and the political baggage around Paxton, whom the Texas House impeached in 2023 over articles alleging bribery and abuse of public trust, as factors that could make the race competitive.
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According to the Texas Tribune, Patrick said at the convention: “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. I’ve never seen so much blasphemy from anyone running for office.
“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. That’s what we’re up against. That’s the darkness. That’s the light. That’s why we must be one.”
Talarico responded Friday evening in a social media post, writing on X: “For decades, Dan Patrick has sold out the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable to enrich his donors.
“Love feels like blasphemy when you worship power.”
Newsweek contacted Talarico and Patrick for comment via email and online contact form, respectively, on Saturday.
Talarico has pointed to his Christian beliefs as shaping his political views, including on issues some consider inconsistent with those teachings. He has also been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights in Texas, especially in backing the transgender community as Republican lawmakers have advanced measures affecting its members in recent years.
In a 2021 address to the Texas Legislature, Talarico said, “God is nonbinary,” while opposing Republican-backed legislation on transgender issues. He said the remark was “provocative,” but told Newsweek in a September 2025 interview that he was reflecting what he believes the Bible teaches.
Talarico vs. Paxton: Polls and Odds
A poll released Tuesday by Reconnaissance Market Research and the Siena Research Institute found that Talarico held a 3‑point lead over Paxton.
The poll found Talarico at 47 percent support for November, compared with 44 percent for Paxton. Among independents, support was 52 percent for Talarico and 34 percent for Paxton, while Latino voters favored Talarico 51 percent to 41 percent.
The Democrat’s favorability rating among Texans stood at 41 percent favorable and 34 percent unfavorable, while Paxton’s were 34 percent favorable and 54 percent unfavorable.
The survey, conducted June 1-4, included 807 likely voters and had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
Meanwhile, traders on the prediction market Kalshi gave Paxton a 57 percent chance and Talarico a 43 percent chance of winning as of Saturday morning.
A similar market on Polymarket gave comparable odds, with 56 percent for Paxton and 46 percent for Talarico.