'The Chosen' Actor Jordan Walker Ross Endorses Texas Democrat James Talarico

Actor Jordan Walker Ross, known for his role in the faith-based series "The Chosen," has endorsed Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Ross announced his support on Thursday while helping to launch "Faithful Texans for Talarico," a coalition aimed at engaging religious voters in the upcoming November election.

In a campaign video, Ross stated, "A lot of politicians like to talk about Christian values, but you don’t really see that reflected in their legislation or the way that they live, but you do see that in the way that James lives. He loves his neighbor; he takes care of the needy, the sick, the immigrant."

The endorsement drew immediate criticism from the campaign of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. A spokesperson accused Talarico of misrepresenting his religious beliefs to support progressive stances on social issues. "Everything about James Talarico is fake," the spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "He uses his beliefs to justify his most radical positions, all while calling himself ‘a Christian who hates Christianity.’"

Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Texas, also criticized the endorsement, questioning the use of taxpayer funds for film incentives. "Your money is being used to help elect Democrats like James Talarico," Harrison stated on X, formerly Twitter.

Harrison specifically targeted Texas Senate Bill 22, which expanded the state's film incentive program. Records from the Texas Film Commission indicate that The Chosen Texas LLC received approximately $862,527 for its second season in 2022 and an additional $1.995 million for its fourth season in March 2025. These payments were made before the new legislation's September 2025 effective date, totaling nearly $2.86 million.

Harrison described the film program as a "socialist scheme to give billions of tax dollars to rich, woke, Hollywood leftists," arguing that production offsets subsidize actor salaries. He pledged to seek legislation to repeal these incentives.

Ross defended his endorsement and the film incentives in a statement to Fox News Digital, asserting that the growing film industry in Texas creates jobs for Texans across the political spectrum. "For Harrison to suggest that those opportunities should be taken away simply because some actors — like myself — endorse Democratic candidates is unconstitutional," Ross said. "One of the beautiful things about our country is the right to voice our opinions and I encourage my fellow actors/filmmakers (on the right AND left) to do the same."

He added, "I believe it’s time for a change and that James Talarico offers a clear vision for how to create those changes."

Brittany Hughes, a video host at the Media Research Center, criticized Ross' endorsement, stating that playing an apostle does not make him an authority on Christian teachings. "As is any American, Ross is free to vote for whatever candidate he chooses," Hughes said. "But American voters aren’t obligated to take a theological lesson from an actor simply because he plays an apostle on TV."

Hughes further argued that many of Talarico's public positions contradict core Christian principles, citing his support for transgender issues and abortion access.

Lisa Cusack, president of the Don't L.A. My Burbank PAC, also questioned the effectiveness of the endorsement, suggesting that Talarico's progressive politics might alienate Christian viewers of "The Chosen." "Theater kids generally make terrible political pundits," Cusack commented.

Ross countered that political differences do not necessarily alienate fans and that he welcomes conversations with those who disagree with him. "As a progressive actor on a TV show with a largely conservative audience, I’ve had so many wonderful opportunities to engage in challenging conversations with my fans and I also do so from a place of compassion and curiosity," he stated.

Talarico, who is a Presbyterian, faces Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who recently launched his own "Pastors for Paxton" coalition with faith leaders. Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico and the Texas Film Commission for comment but did not receive an immediate response.