![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/FTW_05-AED_TalaricoRally.JPG\" "\\"State")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
State Rep. James Talarico, Texas’ Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, kicks off The New American Dream Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Talarico planned to travel to 10 more cities on the tour to talk about his plan for the economy.<\/p>\n
Abigail Dollins<\/p>\n
Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
One of the biggest qualms Republican voters have with Democrat U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico is based on his 2021 statement on the Texas House floor that God is non-binary.<\/p>\n
The Presbyterian seminary student made the comment while debating legislation related to transgender people participating in school sports.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod is both masculine and feminine and everything in between,\u201d he said in 2021. \u201cGod is nonbinary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that Talarico is in a tight race with Republican nominee Ken Paxton, the clip resurfaced and has been put in the spotlight. Wednesday night, Talarico was questioned on his Christian beliefs by Sarah Gardner, a Republican voter from Round Rock, on a CNN town hall in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe where we differ is really our interpretations of the Bible,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cFor a lot of Christian voters, you\u2019ve said some concerning things in the past, kind of related to faith and social issues, things such as God is nonbinary, questions about how many genders there really are, and your justifications using the Bible for abortion. And so I think that\u2019s led a lot of Christian voters to question the authenticity of your faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gardner\u2019s question was if Talarico believes the Bible is the absolute truth and authoritative word despite what society may say. Talarico\u2019s answer was yes.<\/p>\n
He continued to say that having differing interpretations of Scripture is OK as long as those disagreements are talked out with love.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually want to clarify a few of the things that you said, because I know that this has been used in these attack ads all over the state,\u201d Talarico said. \u201cYou know, the first comment about God not being defined by gender, when I said that I was being provocative, and I want to admit that and come clean about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Democrat said theologically, his point isn\u2019t controversial.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea that we can\u2019t define God using human categories, not only did I say that, but the late Charlie Kirk said that,\u201d Talarico said.. \u201cThe late Pope Benedict said that. And so, yes, I was doing it maybe in an annoying way. I can admit that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gardner told Talarico that people have to be careful using modern cultural terms in relation to God, which Talarico agreed is fair criticism.<\/p>\n
\u201cPreachers often will say something shocking in a sermon to get your attention. That\u2019s something I\u2019m still learning how to do in a responsible way,\u201d Talarico said. \u201cI\u2019m always going to take feedback from my fellow Christians, from my constituents on how to do that in a responsible way where I\u2019m actually communicating what I mean and not muddying the waters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Follow More of Our Reporting on 2018 Midterms<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792372364_755_RACHEL_ROYSTER.jpeg\")