{"id":2620069,"date":"2026-06-27T19:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T23:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/paxton-wont-say-whether-james-talarico-is-going-to-hell\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T19:27:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T23:27:35","slug":"paxton-wont-say-whether-james-talarico-is-going-to-hell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/paxton-wont-say-whether-james-talarico-is-going-to-hell\/","title":{"rendered":"Paxton won\u2019t say whether James Talarico is going to hell\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpaxton-wont-say-whether-james-talarico-is-going-to-hell%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2620069&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton declined to comment directly on his opponent James Talarico\u2019s recent remarks suggesting Talarico is destined for eternal damnation, stating that what happens to Talarico is \u201cup to God.\u201d Simultaneously occurring,Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized Talarico,a Democratic state representative and seminarian,condemning his comments as blasphemous and asserting he is \u201cgoing to hell.\u201d Patrick reiterated these statements during a podcast appearance, while Paxton avoided directly endorsing the claim. Both officials argue that talarico has brought religion into the political race, citing his campaign slogan referencing Jesus\u2019s act of overturning the tables of moneychangers. Talarico has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >previously made controversial religious statements<\/a>, including that \u201cGod is nonbinary\u201d and that he is \u201ca Christian who hates Christianity,\u201d remarks he has since attempted to clarify amid attacks. Paxton expressed concern that Talarico\u2019s theological views misrepresent true Christianity and are harmful, but declined to state whether he agreed with Patrick\u2019s hell pronouncement, deferring the judgment to God. The article notes that Talarico\u2019s campaign has responded by criticizing Paxton for using his past comments to distract from alleged corruption.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE \u2014<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas<\/a> Attorney General and Republican Senate nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4370\">Ken Paxton<\/a> declined to take a position on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/army-investigating-chaplain-who-said-transgender-people-unqualified-to-serve\/\" title=\"Army Investigating Chaplain Who Said Transgender People \u2018Unqualified To Serve\u2019\">recent comments<\/a> that his opponent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17710\">James Talarico<\/a> is destined for eternal damnation, insisting instead that what happens to Talarico is \u201cup to God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Texas Lt. Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dan-patrick\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"6517\">Dan Patrick<\/a> said he has \u201cnever seen so much blasphemy from anyone running for office\u201d in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/06\/12\/dan-patrick-james-talarico-go-to-hell-texas-senate-gop-convention\/\">speech earlier this month<\/a> at the state\u2019s GOP convention. Patrick added that Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and Democratic state representative, is \u201cgoing to Hell, for sure.\u201d Patrick repeated those comments when Paxton <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/rumble.com\/v7bscgc-after-the-landslide-ken-paxton-joins-lt.-dan.html\">appeared on his podcast<\/a> this week, though the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-ag-barr-authorizes-federal-prosecutors-to-pursue-substantial-allegations-of-voting-irregularities-before-2020-election-is-certified\/\" title=\"BREAKING: AG Barr Authorizes Federal Prosecutors to Pursue &quot;Substantial Allegations&quot; of Voting Irregularities Before 2020 Election is Certified\">attorney general<\/a> did not respond directly to them.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4627880\/paxton-wont-say-whether-james-talarico-going-to-hell\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paxton won\u2019t say whether James Talarico is going to hell<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4627854\/paxton-need-look-more-in-vitro-fertilization\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paxton says \u2018we need to look more into\u2019 in vitro fertilization<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4627842\/judge-dan-sullivan-appear-alaska-primary-ballot\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge rules Dan Sullivan can appear on Alaska primary ballot against Sen. Dan Sullivan<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI agree that his views do not fit historical Christianity, that they do not match up with Christianity,\u201d Paxton said in a Saturday interview at the Road to Majority Conference in Washington, D.C. \u201cI\u2019ll let God judge what\u2019s happening to James Talarico, but the things that he\u2019s saying are harmful.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton and Patrick both insist that it is Talarico who has brought religion into the race. Talarico\u2019s campaign slogan, \u201cIt\u2019s Time to Start Flipping Tables,\u201d alludes to Jesus\u2019s overturning of the tables of the moneychangers in the temple in Jerusalem. Talarico uses that episode as a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.holypost.com\/post\/james-talarico-flipping-tables-like-jesus-not-christian-nationalists\">metaphor<\/a> for \u201cstanding up to bullies, but not becoming a bully yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talarico\u2019s past religious comments have become an attack vector for Republicans. Before launching his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-megadonors-son-launches-senate-campaign\/\" title=\"Dem Megadonor\u2019s Son Launches Senate Campaign\">senate campaign<\/a>, Talarico claimed that \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/columnists\/4585887\/james-talarico-god-is-nonbinary-timeline\/\">God is nonbinary<\/a>.\u201d Talarico also quipped that he is a \u201cChristian who hates Christianity\u201d during a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4622747\/why-james-talarico-hates-christianity\/\">2021 interview<\/a> that resurfaced this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talarico has attempted to walk back some of his past comments while campaigning across the Bible Belt state. \u201cKen Paxton is clipping my past cringey comments to distract from his career of corruption,\u201d Talarico said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/talarico-walks-back-comments-religion-gender-after-paxtons\/story?id=133361405\">May interview<\/a> with ABC News. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talarico\u2019s beliefs \u201cdo not help people understand faith,\u201d Paxton told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThey actually guide them away from true Christianity, and I think that\u2019s a problem. And you know, I wish he would stop doing that, because it\u2019s harmful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4627854\/paxton-need-look-more-in-vitro-fertilization\/\"><strong>PAXTON SAYS \u2018WE NEED TO LOOK MORE INTO\u2019 IN VITRO FERTILIZATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton declined to say whether he agreed with Patrick\u2019s assessment that Talarico is destined for hell when pressed on the matter. \u201cI don\u2019t make those decisions,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s up to God as to what happens to James Talarico.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Talarico\u2019s campaign for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paxton avoids judgment on Talarico&#8217;s fate; Patrick calls it blasphemy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4301,"featured_media":2620070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-yl2qk5ji0-1782596567963-e1782600767376.jpg?1782586409&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[50410,59577,18466,5894,3694],"class_list":["post-2620069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-controversy-2","tag-james-talarico","tag-paxton","tag-politics","tag-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-yl2qk5ji0-1782596567963-e1782600767376.jpg?1782586409&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2620069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4301"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2620069"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2620069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2620073,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2620069\/revisions\/2620073"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2620070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2620069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2620069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2620069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}