A Daily Wire investigation reported that St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, where Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico worships, maintains a library available to children containing books with explicit sexual content and themes related to gender identity.
The church is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination, described as having progressive positions on social issues. According to the Daily Wire report, materials in the church's collection include titles such as 'Gender Queer,' 'All Boys Aren't Blue,' and 'This Book Is Gay.' The church has publicly stated it offers what it calls 'banned books' so children can find 'affirmation in the books they read.'
Talarico, who currently serves in the Texas State Legislature, is running for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent or nominee Ken Paxton in a race that analysts consider competitive despite Texas's typically conservative lean.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices and Talarico supporters have not issued public statements responding to the Daily Wire report as of publication time. However, Talarico has previously articulated his religious views in public speeches, stating he believes 'God is nonbinary' and describing Jesus as a 'radical feminist.' He has also argued that the Bible does not oppose abortion access.
Churches affiliated with more liberal Protestant denominations have historically maintained libraries featuring diverse perspectives on identity and relationships. St. Andrew's describes itself as a 'Reproductive Freedom Congregation,' stating it believes 'abortion is a blessing.' The church website says its banned book collection aims to help readers find materials that 'shift our perspective, develop empathy, and see more clearly the call to justice among all people.'
What the Right Is Saying
Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton referenced Talarico's religious and political positions during his nomination acceptance speech Tuesday night, using nicknames to characterize Talarico's stance on gender identity issues. Republican Congressman Brandon Gill also cited the Daily Wire reporting in criticism of Talarico.
The Republican National Committee and Texas GOP have signaled they intend to make these issues central to their campaign against Talarico. The party has historically opposed policies allowing transgender individuals to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity, a position Talarico voted against in the state legislature, calling such restrictions 'abusive' and 'destructive.'
Conservative commentators have argued that churches affiliated with progressive denominations represent ideological positions incompatible with mainstream Christian teaching. They note that Talarico's church explicitly supports abortion access and LGBTQ+ inclusion as part of its stated mission.
What the Numbers Show
Texas voted for Donald Trump by approximately 14 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, according to official results. The state has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1991.
Talarico won his Democratic primary with roughly 60 percent of the vote, significantly outperforming two other candidates in a multi-candidate race. Polling in Texas Senate races is limited, but competitive races in recent election cycles have shown Democrats performing within single digits of Republican opponents.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) represents approximately 1.4 million members nationwide, down from over 3 million in the 1990s, as the denomination has experienced declines and internal disputes over social issues including ordination standards for LGBTQ+ clergy.
The Bottom Line
The Daily Wire reporting on St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church library materials has emerged as a campaign issue weeks before the Texas Senate general election. Republicans have incorporated the church's stated positions and available reading materials into their attacks against Talarico, who is running in a historically Republican-leaning state.
Talarico has not issued a public response to the Daily Wire report or Republican criticism. His campaign website emphasizes kitchen-table economic issues including housing costs and healthcare access. The race is expected to receive significant national attention as both parties compete for Senate control.
Voters interested in evaluating these claims should seek out Talarico's direct statements on his religious views, church affiliation, and policy positions, as well as any official response from St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church regarding its library collection.