By Ian M. Giatti, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, June 17, 2026Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during the Republican Party of Texas 2026 State Convention in Houston, Texas, on June 12, 2026. | Screenshot/YouTube/@Republican Party of Texas

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he believes Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Rep. James Talarico will “go to Hell” for his interpretations of the Bible.

Speaking June 12 to cheering delegates at the Republican Party of Texas’ 2026 State Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Patrick accused the Austin Democrat of injecting faith into the high-profile Senate race and called Talarico’s views on Scripture blasphemous.

“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. I’ve never seen so much blasphemy from anyone running for office,” Patrick told the crowd. “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. That’s what we’re up against. That’s the darkness. That’s the light. That’s why we must be one.”

Last month, Talarico backed down from previous comments he made on various theological views, such as his statement during a 2021 legislative debate that “God is non-binary” and his claim that biological sex exists on a “nuanced spectrum.”

Patrick used his convention speech to rally Republicans to unify ahead of the November election, highlighting Talarico’s strong Democratic support. After warning GOP supporters that Talarcio starts with roughly 45% of the vote automatically and needs only about six more percentage points to win, Patrick pointed to recent election results in Maine, where a Democratic candidate received 72% of the vote.

“We must stand together. We cannot lose Texas. We cannot lose this Senate race,” he said. 

Talarico, who has made his Christian faith a central part of his Senate campaign, responded Friday evening on social media.

“For decades, Dan Patrick has sold out the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable to enrich his donors. Love feels like blasphemy when you worship power,” Talarico wrote on X.

Attorney General Ken Paxton, Talarico’s general election opponent, also spoke at the convention.

Patrick, the presiding officer of the Texas Senate and a leading voice for conservative Christian policies, has long championed legislation aligned with his interpretation of biblical values, often citing his efforts to instill faith-based initiatives in Texas governance, including his support for SB 10, which mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms and supporting the sonogram bill, which he says helps protect unborn children.

The U.S. Senate race in Texas is widely expected to be one of the most expensive and closely watched contests in the country, with Democrats hoping to capitalize on anti-Trump sentiment to secure their first statewide victory in more than three decades.

Ian M. Giatti is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ian.giatti@christianpost.com.