missions
Talarico’s Faith Won’t Win Him Many Evangelical Votes
By Bonnie Kristian at Christianity Today
· June 9, 2026
· 6 min read
Senate candidate James Talarico is young, affable, and the latest incarnation of the Democratic Party’s long-standing daydream of turning Texas blue. Recent such efforts flopped (remember Beto?), but this time around, Democrats’ hope stands on two legs. First is that following a contentious GOP prim
Key takeaway Texas maintains an above-average proportion of Christians (and specifically of evangelicals) even as it becomes increasingly urbanized and diverse—and it is, not coincidentally, the right-of-center heavyweight in the Electoral College.
Why this matters
The emphasis on James Talarico's Christianity in his Senate campaign highlights the complexities of faith-based voting in a deeply religious state like Texas. While Talarico's openness about his faith may resonate with some voters, it is unlikely to sway many evangelicals due to significant policy disagreements. The fact that Talarico's campaign slogan references a biblical story and that he is pursuing a seminary degree may not be enough to overcome differences on issues like abortion and immigration. Evangelical voters often prioritize these issues, and Talarico's stance on them may be at odds with their values. Furthermore, the fact that Talarico's faith is being questioned by some evangelicals underscores the challenges of using faith as a political selling point. Ultimately, Talarico's ability to win over evangelical voters will depend on his ability to address their concerns on key policy issues, rather than just his profession of faith.
About this story
Original reporting by Christianity Today . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Christianity Today . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: missions ·
Published: June 9, 2026 ·
Source: Christianity Today ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Senate candidate James Talarico is young, affable, and the latest incarnation of the Democratic Party’s long-standing daydream of turning Texas blue. Recent such efforts flopped (remember Beto?), but this time around, Democrats’ hope stands on two legs. First is that following a contentious GOP prim
When was this published? This article was first published on June 9, 2026 by Christianity Today and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Bonnie Kristian at Christianity Today. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .