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Nevilledog

(55,001 posts)
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:08 PM Yesterday

How the GOP Plans to Use Talarico's Christianity Against Him

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/how-the-gop-plans-to-use-talaricos-christianity-against-him.html

No paywall link
https://archive.li/qjAXR

Texas Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico has gotten a lot of positive (or at least curious) attention for his willingness to criticize Christian nationalism and champion church-state separation from a specifically Christian point of view. It is sort of his signature and is often thought to be central to his ability to reach out beyond the ranks of secular liberals and speak to swing voters and even MAGA folk in a religious vocabulary that is familiar to them.

But his outspokenness on providing a fresh and progressive interpretation of the gospel of Jesus Christ has invited a counterattack from the conjoined forces of the Republican Party and conservative Christianity. This earnest Presbyterian seminarian will likely be attacked not just as a woke liberal but as a heretic, a man pretending to be a Christian who actually worships false gods.

The first salvo of this religiopolitical offensive came on primary night, even before the race had been officially called for the Austin state legislator:

Meet James Talarico, Texas’ Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate.

He thinks “God is nonbinary.” pic.twitter.com/PTXKT6GdeK
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) March 4, 2026

Though the use of the “woke” term “nonbinary” may have been novel, the idea that God is a supreme being beyond gender is not terribly new or (at least in nonfundamentalist circles) especially controversial. But both the idea and the term are shocking to religious conservatives and to secular folk, whose view of Christianity has been largely formed by the conservative Christians who have been so successful in dominating the “brand” in recent years. I have no idea if the National Republican Senatorial Committee operatives who put together the snarky little tweet above know a single thing about Christian theology, but they know a good attack line when they hear one.

*snip*
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displacedvermoter

(4,240 posts)
3. It very well will in Texas I am afraid
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:19 PM
Yesterday

A lot of "moderate" Texans -- the same ones who were supposed to flock to Beato -- will indeed go along.

leftstreet

(40,142 posts)
10. He needs to grab the narrative back
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:45 PM
Yesterday

The GOPers will make his entire campaign about wokeyness

He got where he's at talking about rich vs poor, us vs them, etc and I hope he and his people get control of this

SSJVegeta

(2,757 posts)
14. Just saying "God is not a biological male like the extreme right claims" might work fine
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 02:36 PM
23 hrs ago

SSJVegeta

(2,757 posts)
2. They are saying God is a biological male.
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:15 PM
Yesterday

Because they believe gender is purely biological.

I already pointed to this hypocrisy with some maga folks and they tend to agree.

Buckeyeblue

(6,333 posts)
6. Interesting...Attacked for not being the right type of Christian
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:28 PM
Yesterday

I don't know much about Talarico but from what I've read he is serious about his faith. I suspect that if the attack against him is an attack on his faith that he'll be ready to respond.

Qutzupalotl

(15,791 posts)
7. False gods? They literally worship an idol
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:36 PM
Yesterday

who tells them to wear his mark (MAGA) on their foreheads. One who exemplifies all seven deadly sins. Are they sure they want to go down this road?

TBF

(36,388 posts)
8. I see it in the comments down here south of Houston -
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:37 PM
Yesterday

they are criticizing his positions on transgendered folks, abortion, he's too woke, etc. All the usual crap they roll out.

He can talk about religion, but he will really need to hammer home costs. I paid $3.19 for regular gas yesterday here in the suburbs of Houston. Crazy. Our gas is always cheap because we're near the refineries. It may be stations just reading the news and deciding they can get away with bumping it up right now, or it could be shortages coming in already. I need to take a look at the oil & gas pages down here and see what they're saying.

People are having enough problems w/the economy, they did not need this.

Wiz Imp

(9,774 posts)
9. Talk about being clueless.
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:38 PM
Yesterday

Do the Republicans want to lose this race? Attacking Talarico's Christianity will only help him win.

mdbl

(8,552 posts)
13. The only chance Talarico has is if he can convince the TX cult how ridiculous they look to normal people.
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 02:19 PM
23 hrs ago

If he can't do that, they'll vote for the biggest GOP moron available.

SSJVegeta

(2,757 posts)
15. Give it time. This is a super weak attack on its face.
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 02:38 PM
23 hrs ago

And could completely derail the far right religious base in major ways because it is even weaker at it's it's core.

"God is a biological male" simply isnt a great way to appeal to even the most conservative Christians.

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