James Talarico, a Democratic state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, is running for a Texas Senate seat against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. In a resurfaced interview, Talarico discussed how his church has been involved in various progressive causes, including housing a family of illegal immigrants who were set to be deported by ICE.

Talarico’s Faith and Politics

Talarico credited his faith for his involvement in politics, stating that ‘justice is just love out in public.’ He also discussed his church’s history of advancing progressive causes, including supporting LGBTQ rights and allowing an atheist to join the church.

Talarico’s comments have drawn criticism from Republicans, with Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft calling him a ‘dangerous man’ who is ‘dedicated to helping illegal immigrants by dismantling border security, defunding police, and abolishing prisons.’

Response from Talarico’s Campaign

Talarico’s campaign responded to the criticism, stating that he is a Christian seminarian who is dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ and is fighting against ‘powerful people twisting the teachings of Jesus to justify hate, violence, and greed.’ The campaign also denied allegations that Talarico supports defunding the police and abolishing prisons, stating that he has voted to support law enforcement and has called for stronger border security and immigration enforcement.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.