Paxton, Talarico tap contrary versions of God and Christianity in appeal to Texas voters
AUSTIN, Texas (RNS) — Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico portray their U.S. Senate campaigns in Texas as fights for the soul of America — one in which God plays an active yet vastly different role.
Talarico, believing God is on the side of the oppressed and the marginalized, focuses his message to voters on equity and protecting personal freedom.
Paxton sees God as on his side — a force safeguarding his ability to protect Texas and the nation from disaster at the hands of the “radical left.”
“I truly believe that God just delivered me, not because I am a great person, because God is sovereign and he does what he wants to do,” Paxton said on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s podcast , referring to tribulations that included an unsuccessful 2023 impeachment effort on corruption charges. “I don’t take credit for it, it’s really by the grace of God.”
In Texas — where two-thirds of the adult population identifies as Christian and 45% say religion is “very important” in their life — the candidates are asking voters to choose between two dramatically different views of Christianity. Paxton’s version insists conservative Christian values — such as protecting the unborn…
