By Kamryn Anthis | Staff Writer
As James Talarico and Ken Paxton campaign for the U.S. Senate, both candidates have made Christianity a prominent part of their political identities. But the two candidates draw very different conclusions about how their faith should shape government, from the separation of church and state to the role of Christian values in public policy.
For Baylor students, the debate carries particular weight. Talarico is scheduled to hold a campaign event exclusively for Baylor students, faculty and staff on Sept. 16, following Paxton’s appearance on campus earlier this year.
Talarico takes a “love thy neighbor” approach to government, advocating equality among people of different religions and backgrounds. Paxton, meanwhile, has emphasized the role of Christian principles in American government and culture.
The candidates have clashed over the role of religion in Texas classrooms, including the display of the Ten Commandments. The Texas Tribune reported Talarico’s criticism of the practice and his argument that using government power to elevate one religious tradition over others conflicts with Christian teachings.
“It’s using political power to elevate one religious tradition over all the others,” Talarico said. “It’s using governmental power to dominate our neighbors instead of loving them as ourselves, which is exactly what we’re called to do as Christians.”
Paxton has supported displaying the Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms and has described the Bible as part of the country’s moral and historical foundation.
“In Texas classrooms, we want the Word of God opened, the Ten Commandments displayed, and prayers lifted up,” Paxton said in a Sept. 2025 press release. “Twisted, radical liberals want to erase Truth, dismantle the solid foundation that America’s success and strength were built upon, and erode the moral fabric of our society.”
In an interview with PBS, Talarico explained why he believes separating church and state protects both religious institutions and government.
“I don’t want politicians and bureaucrats teaching my faith; I want pastors and Sunday School teachers to be teaching my faith,” Talarico said.
These disagreements have also brought Christian nationalism into the campaign. Christian nationalism is generally described as an ideology that views the U.S. as founded on Christian principles and that these principles should play a central role in government.
Talarico has criticized Christian nationalism and argued that some policies Paxton supports advance the ideology.
Paxton has emphasized the country’s biblical and Christian heritage but has not necessarily identified himself with the term “Christian nationalism.”
“Our nation was founded on the rock of Biblical Truth, and I will not stand by while the far-left attempts to push our country into the sinking sand,” Paxton said.
Houston senior Chris Williams disagreed with the idea that the United States was founded as a Christian nation.
“This country was not specifically founded as a Christian nation; it was founded to get away from religious oppression,” Williams said.
Talarico supports the idea that forcing religion on anyone is both anti-Christian and unconstitutional. As a former school teacher, he believes in teaching but not preaching in schools. Paxton, however, believes the idea of separating church and state was never discussed in our nation’s founding.
“There is no legal reason to stop Texas from honoring a core ethical foundation of our law, especially not a bogus claim about the ‘separation of church and state,’ which is a phrase found nowhere in the Constitution,” Paxton said.
Steve Block, senior political science lecturer and a U.S. Constitution expert, said the phrase “separation of church and state” does, in fact, not appear in the Constitution. The First Amendment, however, addresses religion by prohibiting Congress from establishing a religion and protecting the free exercise of religion.
“Separation of church and state is not something mentioned in the Constitution,” Block said. “The court has no idea how to actually enforce the principle of separation of church and state.”
Another fundamental difference between the candidates is how they describe the role of God in their political lives.
Talarico has emphasized a theology centered on recognizing God in other people, particularly those who are marginalized.
“We spend so much time looking for God out there that we miss God in the person sitting right next to us, in that neighbor who bears the divine image,” Talarico said. “In the face of a neighbor, we glimpse the face of God.”
Paxton has spoken about his own political career in terms of divine purpose, saying he believes God has played a role in his continued political career.
“I’m not here because of some great thing I did; I’m here because God delivered me,” Paxton said. “If God wants me here, no one can stop me. If God doesn’t want me here, no one can help me.”
President Donald Trump has also criticized Talarico’s faith, saying Talarico “insults Jesus” in a Truth Social post in May. Talarico responded by saying he does not claim to be a perfect Christian and then criticized policies he believes conflict with the teachings of Christ.
“You want to know what insults Jesus?” Talarico said. “Kicking the sick off their healthcare, while cutting taxes for billionaires. Deporting the stranger and separating babies from their mothers. Bombing innocent schoolchildren in Iran and sending our brave men and women off to die in another forever war. Covering up the Epstein files and refusing to prosecute the people in them.
“I am not a perfect Christian, and I don’t claim to be,” he continued.
With Talarico coming to Baylor’s campus in September and Paxton having previously appeared on campus, Baylor students have an opportunity to hear from two candidates who publicly emphasize Christianity while offering different interpretations of how faith should interact with government.
