‘Going to hell’: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blasts U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday said state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, is “going to hell” if he continues to campaign “against God.”
Patrick was addressing attendees of the Republican Party of Texas’ state convention in Houston from the event’s main stage. Talarico, who represents the Austin area in the state legislature, is a Presbyterian seminarian.
“It’s James Talarico who decided to bring the Bible into this election, and let me tell you, that’s not a Bible I’ve ever read,” Patrick said. “I’ve never seen so much blasphemy from anyone running for office, and let me tell you what, I’m going to pray for that guy, because when he loses the Senate race, if he campaigns against God as he’s been doing, he’s going to hell for sure.”
Much of his speech and remarks from other officials speaking at the convention Friday focused on party unity after a bruising primary season, where Democrats are hoping to capitalize on what could be a vulnerable year for Republicans. It’s been decades since a Democrat has won statewide in Texas.
“We need every Republican all in, in November,” Patrick said. “Remember, it’s darkness and light. We cannot lose Texas.”
Talarico is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for Senate, in the Nov. 3 general election.
The Star-Telegram has reached out to Talarico’s campaign for comment.
Patrick serves as chair of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission and has been an ally of the president, who he said will be spending a lot of time in Texas.
Patrick said Democrats accuse Republicans of being Christian nationalist.
“To me, that means I love God and I love America, and if that’s who a Christian nationalist is, here I am,” Patrick said. “That means they’re anti-Christian, anti-country.”
This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 4:47 PM.
