Full Breakdown
Republicans Target James Talarico’s Church Amid Texas Senate Race
6/2/2026, 4:02:30 AM
Attack on St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Republican operatives and The Daily Wire have launched a critique of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, the Austin congregation of Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. The investigation calls the church a “woke Austin church,” notes its partnership with Planned Parenthood, and links its “Field of Hope” AIDS-awareness project to the Lilith Fund, which the outlet describes as providing “money for Texans to travel out of state to kill their unborn babies.” It also alleges the church’s library distributes “sexually explicit” books to children and repeats false rumors about Talarico’s gender, diet and relationship.
Political Context
James Talarico, a Democratic state representative, entered the 2024 Texas Senate race as an openly LGBTQ+ ally. His campaign unfolds amid a surge of anti-transgender rhetoric from Texas Republicans, highlighted by Attorney General Ken Paxton’s May 2024 primary victory over incumbent John Cornyn and his platform opposing transgender rights despite legal challenges. The controversy builds on the church’s 1993 “Field of Hope” AIDS-awareness project and the state’s 2022 near-total abortion ban, which the Daily Wire cited when describing the Lilith Fund.
Official Statements
St. Andrew’s website asserts a commitment to marginalized communities, stating that supporting such groups “has always been the right thing to do” and that the “Field of Hope” embodies its mission to “preach and practice Jesus’s love in action.” The church’s listings do not include the Lilith Fund.
Criticism & Opposition
The Daily Wire portrays the church’s social-justice ministries as evidence of a “woke” agenda, accuses it of facilitating out-of-state abortions, and labels its library collection—including titles such as *Gender Queer* and *All Boys Aren’t Blue*—as “sexually explicit.” Republican operatives have amplified these accusations while also circulating unrelated rumors about Talarico’s gender, diet and relationship status.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The “Field of Hope” website links to the Lilith Fund, yet the church’s benevolences page omits any mention of that organization. The Daily Wire’s claim of “sexually explicit” books refers to a library of frequently challenged titles rather than universally defined explicit material. No direct response from James Talarico on the church allegations appears in the sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “God is queer.” — Jeff Hood, author, Daily Wire investigation
- “money for Texans to travel out of state to kill their unborn babies.” — Daily Wire characterization of the Lilith Fund
- “The latest report came a week after the same right-wing outlet reported that the church had distributed “sexually explicit” books to children.” — Daily Wire claim
What’s Next
As the Texas Senate primary approaches, Talarico’s campaign and St. Andrew’s are likely to face continued media scrutiny. Republican candidates may further exploit the church controversy, while the congregation could issue additional clarifications about its partnerships and library holdings.
