Chip Roy Says James Talarico Is 'Out of Step' With Texas, Cites Pastor Video and Policy Record

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told Newsmax on Friday that Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico is out of step with many Texas voters, citing an undercover video featuring clergy associated with Talarico and the candidate's past remarks about gender and religion.

Roy made the comments on the "Finnerty" program as Talarico campaigns to challenge Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. John Cornyn.

Undercover Video and Religious Concerns

Newsmax aired undercover footage first published by Breitbart News that showed the Rev. Jim Rigby, described as Talarico's longtime pastor, saying people who reject religion out of a love for humanity and nature are welcome in the congregation. The clip also included a second clergy member identified by Breitbart as the Rev. Babs Miller saying, "I don't have a need for a God."

Roy said the video underscored his view that Talarico is misaligned with what Roy described as the values of an "overwhelmingly religious" state. "That clip is emblematic of a candidate who is out of step with Texas," Roy said on the program.

Policy Criticisms

Beyond the video, Roy criticized Talarico's legislative record and policy positions. He accused the Austin Democrat of being "a radical on crime," saying Talarico opposed measures to back Austin police and ensure offenders are jailed. Roy also criticized Talarico's positions on transgender medical care for minors, saying the candidate is often "on the wrong side" of voters on that issue.

Roy and other Republican critics have pointed to Talarico's past comments about gender and religion — including a 2021 remark in which Talarico said he believes "God is nonbinary," and a separate statement Republicans have summarized as referring to six "biological sexes." Opponents have characterized those comments as a claim that there are "six genders."

Race Tight, Voters Focused on Immigration

Polling shows the Senate race is close. A ReconMR survey of 614 likely Texas voters, conducted Sept. 8-11 with the Texas A&M Bush School, found Talarico leading Paxton 49% to 43% with a margin of sampling error of ±4.3 percentage points. Several other recent public polls have shown the contest roughly tied or with a slim Talarico edge.

Roy also argued Democrats are downplaying concerns he says resonate with many Texans, including border security, illegal immigration, alleged abuses of H-1B visas and the expansion of mosques in parts of the Dallas–Fort Worth area. He said those topics should remain part of public debate.

GOP Friction

Roy pointed to a separate rift within Texas Republicans after Sen. John Cornyn shared a Wall Street Journal opinion piece by Karl Rove titled "Why I'm Voting for a Texas Democrat." In that column, Rove said he would support Democrat Jon Rosenthal for railroad commissioner after Republican nominee Bo French posted comments about Asian American students that Cornyn, as reported by The Texas Tribune, called "racist." Roy warned that intra-party disputes over individual nominees should not weaken the broader Republican ticket.

Context: The remarks reflect campaign-era rhetoric as both parties vie for a closely contested Senate seat in a state that remains a pivotal battleground in national politics.