Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico declared that Christians were obligated to support efforts to fight climate change in video posted to social media on March 10.
Talarico defeated Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the March 3 Democratic primary for the party’s nomination for the United States Senate seat held by Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn. Talarico, a former public school teacher who is currently attending a Presbyterian seminary, questioned whether those who disagreed with him on environmental policy were truly Christian in a video clip posted to X.
“You can’t call yourself a Christian and destroy God’s creation with greenhouse gasses,” Talarico claimed.
On oil and gas:
“You can’t call yourself a Christian and destroy God’s creation with greenhouse gases.” pic.twitter.com/Kztp4Ii82u
— Bobby LaValley (@Bobby_LaVallley) March 10, 2026
JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, claimed that the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate backed Texas’ oil and gas industry.
“James doesn’t support the Green New Deal. He went to public schools funded by the oil and gas industry and knows how essential oil and gas is to Texas’ economy – it’s why he supports an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy so Texas can remain a leader in oil and gas, wind, solar, geothermal, and more,” Ennis said. “While DC politicians like John Cornyn kill energy projects that would lower energy costs, James will put the economic interests of Texans first – creating good jobs and lowering energy costs.”
In 2021, Talarico introduced the Texas Climate Action Act, designated HB2206, which would have required the state to create a plan to reduce emissions of so-called “greenhouse gasses” to 10% of 1990 levels by 2050. Ennis claimed the legislation was not akin to the Green Dew Deal in a conversation with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Oil and natural gas production contributed $385 billion to the Texas economy in 2025, RigZone.com reported, providing over 476,000 jobs. The state is also home to 14% of cattle in the United States, providing $1 billion a year in beef exports, according to Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Talarico also boasted about pushing “#liberalpropaganda” about environmental issues in his classroom in a 2012 post on X, then known as Twitter.
Took 10 minutes today to teach my kids about global warming. It definitely freaked them out. #liberalpropaganda pic.twitter.com/NyyLSnTT
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) January 6, 2012
Do you believe Christians should fight against greenhouse gas emissions?
At the same event, Talarico insinuated that those who opposed illegal immigration also were not reflecting the values of Christianity.
“You can’t call yourself a Christian and reject the stranger seeking asylum at our southern border,” Talarico claimed.
Ennis also claimed that Talarico backed a “secure border” in a second statement sent to the DCNF.
“James believes we need more secure borders – it’s why he’s authored legislation to modernize our ports of entry and called for more border patrol agents,” Ennis maintained. “Both parties have failed us on the issue of immigration, so James is running for Senate to stop the chaos on our border and welcome hardworking immigrants who want to contribute to this country while keeping out people who mean to do us harm.”
Talarico has made other comments attacking conservative Christians during his political career, including claiming during a 2021 state Legislature hearing that there are six genders. Talarico also claimed that atheists and Muslims are more Christlike than Christians with conservative political views during a January appearance on the “Politics War Room” podcast hosted by Democratic strategist James Carville and former journalist Al Hunt.
“I have met so many Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, atheists, agnostics who are more Christ-like than some of the Christians I serve with,” Talarico claimed.
Talarico made bold claims about the nature of God during a 2021 speech on the floor of the state Legislature opposing legislation to restrict child sex-change procedures.
“In committee, I listened to 15 hours of testimony about this bill. The worst part, for me, was the number of Christians who used scripture to justify hurting children. Even on this floor today, a member tried to justify a hateful amendment in the name of God’s law.” Talarico claimed during a 2021 debate in the state Legislature on legislation to restrict child sex-change operations.
So, let’s talk about that,” Talarico continued. “The first two lines of the Bible, the first two lines of Genesis, use two different Hebrew words to describe God. One is the masculine Hebrew noun for divinity, the second is the feminine Hebrew noun for spirit. God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is nonbinary.”
Talarico also discussed the genitalia of God during an interview with The Bulwark’s Tim Miller before electing to hide behind a prominent figure in the New Testament.
“In the meat section, first, how big is God’s sausage? Would you say we know God is a man? And so I’m just wondering like how healthy his hog is. So, I know this is rapid fire, but let me just because two-word answer, please. Yes or no?” Miller asked Talarico, who responded, “Listen, I know that I was being provocative with that comment.”
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 09: Democratic Texas State Rep. James Talarico speaks during a campaign launch rally on September 09, 2025 in Round Rock, Texas. Rep. Talarico announced earlier today that he will be running for U.S. Senate in Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)”I made it on the floor of the House when the extremists in the Texas Legislature were trying to pick on kids who were different,” Talarico continued. “And while it’s maybe provocative politically, I don’t think it’s controversial theologically. Most Christians believe that God is beyond gender. In fact, the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians says that in Christ there is neither male nor female. So if you have a problem with what I said, don’t take it up with me, take it up with the Apostle Paul.”
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