Overview
- On Friday, June 12, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told delegates at the Republican Party of Texas convention in Houston that Rep. James Talarico would “go to Hell” for his use of scripture and called that use blasphemous.
- Talarico is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate and will face Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Nov. 3 general election, and Paxton also spoke on the convention stage.
- Talarico’s campaign initially declined to comment and later criticized Patrick, saying Patrick has prioritized donors over the poor and calling faith‑based attacks a cover for political power.
- Patrick chairs President Trump’s Presidential Religious Liberty Commission and his remarks reflect a wider Republican shift to religious and cultural messaging after Paxton’s primary upset moved the race onto the national stage.
- The exchange is likely to sharpen outside spending and partisan messaging: Democrats plan to stress Paxton’s legal and ethics troubles while Republicans consolidate conservative voters with faith‑based appeals.