Texas Democratic state representative and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is facing backlash after a resurfaced video from 2025 showed him describing a state curriculum that included Bible stories as "propaganda" and "indoctrination." The comments, made during an interview with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, have drawn criticism from conservatives, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
In the clip, Talarico, who identifies as a Christian seminarian, stated that he fought against a "new state curriculum that would teach Christian Bible stories as historical fact, as the only truth to our youngest students." He argued that this practice was "deeply immoral" and particularly concerning for young children who have not yet formed their own worldviews.
Texas Values, an organization focused on government relations, countered Talarico's claims, stating that the curriculum in question was the Bluebonnet curriculum, an English Language Arts curriculum adopted in late 2024. According to Mary Elizabeth Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, the curriculum was designed to help students understand biblical references in historical speeches and literature, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Castle added that the Bluebonnet curriculum was supported by religious liberty law firms like First Liberty Institute and defended by figures like Dr. Ben Carson. The stated purpose of these references was to improve reading scores and comprehension.
Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel for First Liberty, told Fox News Digital that courts have recognized the Bible's significant influence on Western culture and its importance as a piece of literature and history. He noted that understanding the Bible's influence is considered essential for a complete education, a point even acknowledged by the ACLU in a court settlement regarding teaching the Bible in Texas schools.
Tim Graham, executive editor of Media Research Center's NewsBusters, suggested that Talarico's criticism stems from a perceived ideological conflict, particularly concerning Talarico's stance on "leftist gender ideology," which Graham contrasted with biblical teachings. "When they do it, it's ‘inclusion.’ When it opposes their ideology, it's considered government-imposed cruelty," Graham stated.
A spokesperson for Talarico's campaign asserted that Talarico, as a Christian seminarian, fights against religious and political corruption. The campaign added that Talarico encourages Texans to unite and "love their neighbors as themselves," while condemning powerful individuals who use scripture for political gain. The spokesperson also highlighted Talarico's personal commitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
In a separate interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Talarico elaborated on his views regarding the separation of church and state, expressing concern for students of minority faiths or no faith. He stated his belief that government-imposed religious messages in schools could alienate or marginalize such students, arguing that "if Jesus saw that, he would weep for those students and would demand that we love them as ourselves."
Talarico's campaign has also faced scrutiny regarding his views on transgender issues, although he has stated his opposition to gender reassignment surgeries for minors.