By The Editorial Board
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton graduated from Baylor University in 1985 with a degree in psychology and in 1986 with his Master of Business Administration.
Senator-elect James Talarico, who just flipped a Texas Senate seat with a win over Paxton, was born in Round Rock, taught middle school in San Antonio and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas.
In many ways, these politicians have a background similar to the average Baylor student; however, they are placed on a pedestal.
Whether you are happy or not with the recent election results, we must be mindful of the way we approach the new people entering office in January. While we can — and should — celebrate wins and mourn losses, we cannot idolize or glorify politicians.
Idolization of politicians has existed since George Washington, but there has been a rise over the last several decades with presidents like John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
It is concerning when politicians rely on a cult of personality to succeed, and it is the people’s role to prevent it.
A cult of personality, as defined by Britannica, is “a deliberately created system of art, symbolism, and ritual centered on the institutionalized quasi-religious glorification of a specific individual.”
Polarization has also become increasingly prevalent, especially around elections, and this has caused a backlash against healthy civic engagement and civic discourse. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in late September 2025 said that people see a rise in politically motivated violence.
The same survey found that partisan individuals are also more likely to see extremism in their opposing party as an issue. 77% of Republicans say left-wing extremism is a major problem in the country, while 27% say right-wing extremism is a major problem, and 76% of Democrats say right-wing extremism is a major problem, while 32% say left-wing extremism is a major problem.
With this clear polarization between the parties, it only makes sense that people will become angry and defensive about their politicians. On both sides — whether someone is criticizing actions made by President Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Paxton or Talarico — there is a tendency to become protective of the person they believe in.
But politics was not designed for people to rally behind a person, but rather in a system. Part of this system is our democratic duty as citizens to hold those in power accountable for their actions and remind them of the promises they made while running.
As students and American citizens, it is our job to be engaged in democracy.
One way to keep politicians from becoming an ideal or heroic image is to use your voice and push for accountability. Politicians aren’t supposed to be liked for who they are as individuals, but for what they do for the people. You can contact your representatives, start and sign petitions, protest, vote and remind politicians that they are your voice. Watch their campaign promises, and keep track of whether or not they follow through with them.
Further, it is our job as Christians not to commit idolatry, with the Bible addressing idolatry in multiple places (Exodus 20:3–6, 1 John 5:21, Matthew 6:14, 1 Corinthians 10:14).
Therefore, we should not treat our politicians as anything near godlike or perfect, and we should not give them our blind faith. We should review their policies, question them and acknowledge their flaws.
Politicians are put in office to serve the people, not the other way around. They are to be the voice of the country or the state that they represent. Blindly following whoever wears a red or blue mantle is dangerous and anti-democratic.
Politicians are not infallible. They are people, just like you and me, and we should treat them as such.
