SAN ANTONIO — Texas state Rep. James Talarico‘s Senate bid is offering a vision of Christianity that fits comfortably within the Left — and giving Democrats uneasy with religion permission to engage with it on their own terms.
Talarico’s campaign blended prayer, pop music, and progressive politics at a rally in San Antonio on Sunday. A maxed capacity crowd turned out to Stable Hall, a San Antonio music venue, for the event which began with 10 minutes of “community building” — where attendees were encouraged to get to know those standing to their left and right.
The socializing was followed by a pastor taking the stage to warm up the crowd.
“Let us always be about extending our hand in peace to everyone, most especially the opposition, Amen?” the pastor said as the crowd echoed amen. “Because if we are going to heal as a nation, if we are going to be well again as a nation, we need great leaders like James, but we also need the people to never go to sleep again and not to slack off. We need the people to be paying attention and to be out there.”
Talarico was met by energized voters when he finally took the stage in Wrangler jeans and Lucchese boots. His stump speech, although heavily religious in tone, offered plenty of red meat for the Democrats in attendance.
Talarico accused billionaires — or the “top” in his parlance — of dividing “by party, by race, by gender, by religion” the working people — the “bottom” — in order to “pick our pockets.” He said Republicans were engaging in cancel culture and trying to “control what we watch, what we say, what we read.”
One attendee jumped up in agreement, clapping as Talarico called for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 48-year-old Elizabeth Parra, who brought her mom to the rally, teared up as he related his message back to the Bible.
“I feel a lot of Christians are progressive, and they just were feeling isolated and ostracized, but I think this is helping, because he’s actually resonating with us like the way,” Parra told the Washington Examiner, as she went on to explain how she left the church nearly a decade ago, but has seen the religion in a new light through Talarico.
Talarico’s “progressive” view of Christianity might appeal to Democrats, but it’s sure to be a target if he triumphs over Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) for the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s primary election. Republicans have honed in on his comment during a 2021 Texas legislature speech that “God is nonbinary,” but his supporters seemed not to bat an eye at the progressive stance.
“I think it is along that line of saying that God does transcend all limitations, so you wouldn’t just be one gender or one sex, he’s omnipotent, he’s everywhere, he’s everything,” Parra said of the comment.
57-year-old Elizabeth Rosenbulm, who had never attended a political rally before Sunday, told the Washington Examiner she often feels like she is on an island as a Christian Democrat, but Talarico and his supporters have made her feel heard, calling his message “simple but powerful.”
While Talarico took the time to take a picture with each of the hundreds of attendees, the DJ switched between Bad Bunny and Ella Langley. Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican artist whose political leanings and anti-ICE sentiment have made him an icon among Democrats, was invoked by Talarico multiple times during the rally.
“Bad Bunny, one of my favorite artists, gave one of the best Super Bowl halftime performances of all time. And then I saw that Kid Rock, someone I grew up listening to, held a counter concert. I didn’t even know that was a thing,” said Talarico as the crowd booed Kid Rock.
“What leads someone to protest that beautiful halftime show? I think it’s fear, fear of the unknown, fear of change, fears we all struggle with, but there was nothing to be afraid of in that halftime performance,” he added. “Just joy and unity and love, because, in the words of scripture, love casts out fear. Or in the words of Bad Bunny, the only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Talarico’s Christian-infused campaign long predates his Senate bid. He’s gone viral multiple times for calling for gun control and opposing a push by Republican state lawmakers to add the Ten Commandments to public classrooms.
22-year-old Ryan Guerra told the Washington Examiner he first became aware of Talarico after listening to him on Joe Rogan’s podcast last year. The interview prompted Guerra to look into politics more after voting Republican in the past. Guerra said he believes Talarico resonated with him enough to flip his vote and that his Christian values have pushed him to think “more of what you believe in.”
DOES JAMES TALARICO HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO FLIP THE TEXAS SENATE SEAT
While Talarico’s supporters remain hopeful, the candidate’s political future — and how broadly his message resonates — is uncertain. Polls in recent weeks have shown both Crockett and Talarico leading, but the margin is what matters. If neither candidate receives more than 50%, a runoff will be required.
Crockett, who is serving her second term in the House, is a rising star and seen as more of a fighter than Talarico. The congresswoman’s position has benefited from attempts by Republicans to label her as the new face of the Democratic Party. Crockett has been all too happy to help, focusing much of her campaign on attacking President Donald Trump. Her launch video underscored heavily the insults that Trump has lobbed in her direction.
Tuesday’s primary will test whether Democrats want a combative figure like Crockett or Talarico, whose campaign events are a safe space for faith — carefully redefined to fit progressive politics. Talarico may quote scripture and talk about love being more powerful than hate, but in the age of Trump are Democrats really ready to follow the Bible and turn the other cheek?
