Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico Explains 'God Is Nonbinary' Remark by Citing Charlie Kirk
On October 14, 2026, in Texas, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico addressed controversy surrounding his past assertion that “God is nonbinary” during a televised town hall hosted by CNN and Jubilee. Responding to a question from a Christian voter, the lawmaker admitted that his statement from five years ago was deliberately “provocative” and delivered in an annoying manner, while arguing that the underlying theological point—that human gender categories cannot define God—has been embraced by prominent conservatives, including the late activist Charlie Kirk.
According to the American publication LGBTQ Nation, the exchange was prompted by Sarah Gardner, a Texas small business owner who questioned the authenticity of the faith of Talarico, currently a student at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Gardner cited his April 2021 speech on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives during a debate over school sports, where Talarico declared that “God is both masculine and feminine, and everything in between; God is nonbinary,” referencing Genesis 1:26 and the biological reality of intersex individuals. Republican campaigns have aired attack ads featuring those remarks across the state.
“When I said that, I was being provocative, and I want to admit that and come clean about that,” Talarico told the audience. “But I think what I was saying is actually not controversial theologically—the idea that we can’t define God using human categories. Not only did I say that, but the late Charlie Kirk said that, the late Pope Benedict said that. So, yes, I was doing it maybe in an annoying way, and I can admit that.” Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, during a 2024 appearance on Jubilee, similarly remarked that “God the Father is neither man nor woman; He is omniscient, omnipotent.”
During the event, voters also questioned the Democratic candidate about healthcare for transgender youth. Dismissing Republican ads claiming he endorsed gender-affirming surgeries for children, Talarico reiterated his opposition to surgical interventions for minors. He explained that he voted against the 2023 Texas ban because the legislation outlawed a sweeping range of pediatric healthcare rather than focusing solely on surgery. Talarico noted he had supported a floor amendment that would have limited the ban strictly to surgical procedures on individuals under 18.
Talarico’s town hall remarks drew praise from some right-leaning and independent analysts. Conservative political scientist and author Richard Hanania commended the Democrat’s poise and candor on X:
Hanania observed that the ability to acknowledge awkward phrasing while articulating common ground with conservative Christians helps the candidate connect effectively with moderate voters.
The 2026 Senate race between incumbent Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and state lawmaker James Talarico is one of the most competitive in the United States, with polls showing a tight margin in a state where Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate election since 1988.
Uránia previously reported on the Texas Senate race, including scrutiny over James Talarico’s position on the federal Equality Act and remarks by Vice President JD Vance about Talarico’s personal life during a rally in Tyler.
