Texas State Rep. James Talarico, a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas. “The people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope. And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing,” Talarico said in his acceptance speech early Wednesday morning.
His opponent, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, conceded the highly-publicized race with a call for Democrats to “rally around our nominees and win,” according to Politico.
Talarico was one of three Presbyterian or Presbyterian-affiliated candidates who won their respective races on Tuesday.
Rodney Sadler Jr., a Baptist pastor and associate professor of Bible and director of the Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, defeated incumbent Carla Cunningham to win the Democratic nomination for N.C. District 106. There was no GOP contender, which means Sadler will automatically be sworn into the seat.
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Presbyterian elder, won the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat that is currently open after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced he would not seek re-election. Cooper will face Republican Michael Whatley, a former director of the GOP National Convention, in the November election.
Related reading: “Presbyterian politicians mix faith with their civic service” by Gregg Brekke, Presbyterian Outlook
Talarico, a 36-year-old state representative, has frequently drawn on his Christian faith in challenging the rise of Christian nationalism. He recently enrolled at Austin Seminary, where he earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies in May 2025 and remains in good standing to complete the coursework required for a Master of Divinity, according to Jeff Sanchez, associate director of marketing and communications at Austin Seminary.
“He has an ability to communicate essential biblical truths in a very understandable way,” said Amos Disasa, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Disasa met with Talarico in a sit-down chat during the candidate’s visit to his congregation for Sunday worship last November.
A flurry of confusion about polling sites and where voters could actually cast ballots in the Dallas area led to reports that voters were being “turned away from precincts,” according to Politico and the Democratic Party.
“A state judge ruled that polls should stay open two extra hours because of ‘mass confusion’ around new rules put in place weeks ago by Republicans who opted out of a joint agreement that would have allowed voters to cast ballots at any polling location in the county,” Politico wrote.
Talarico had also called for the polling sites in Williamson County and Dallas to remain open for extended hours.
‘Presbyterian through and through’
Before entering politics, Talarico taught middle school in San Antonio through Teach For America. He was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives at age 28. Talarico holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in education policy from Harvard University.
In interviews, Talarico has frequently spoken about how his faith shapes his political commitments, often pointing to the biblical commandment to love God and one’s neighbor.
“Someday he’ll make a good pastor,” Disasa said, describing Talarico as “earnest and curious.” Disasa added, “He’s Presbyterian through and through.”
While a seminary student in 2023, Talarico preached at his home congregation, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, calling Christian nationalism “a cancer on our religion.”
In November, Talarico will face the winner of the Republican runoff race between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
