Full Breakdown
Actor Jordan Walker Ross Endorses Democrat James Talarico in Texas Senate Race
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On Thursday, Jordan Walker Ross – known for playing the apostle Little James in *The Chosen* – released a campaign video announcing his endorsement of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. The video launched “Faithful Texans for Talarico,” a coalition aimed at mobilizing Christian and other religious voters ahead of the November election.
Background & Context
James Talarico, a 37-year-old Texas House member and Presbyterian seminary student, is challenging incumbent Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for the state’s U.S. Senate seat. Both candidates have foregrounded faith in their campaigns: Paxton announced a “Pastors for Paxton” coalition with 27 faith leaders, while Ross’s endorsement seeks to present Talarico as aligned with Christian values.
Data & Statistics
- Texas Senate Bill 22 (the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program) provides grants to productions that employ at least one-third Texas-resident cast and crew.
- Texas Film Commission records show *The Chosen* Texas LLC received approximately $862,527 for its second season in 2022 and $1.995 million for its fourth season in March 2025, for a combined total of about $2.86 million.
- An X post by Rep. Brian Harrison cited a Google answer indicating the series has received “over $850,000” in state grants.
Official Statements & Responses
Ross said the right to voice political opinions is “constitutional” and urged actors to speak freely.
Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Texas) condemned the endorsement, claiming taxpayer money is being used to “subsidize this leftist actor’s salary” and labeling the incentive program a “socialist scheme.”
Ken Paxton’s campaign accused Talarico of using his religious beliefs to justify “radical positions,” including support for gender transition, abortion and immigration policies, without directly addressing Ross’s endorsement.
Criticism & Opposition
- Brittany Hughes of the Media Research Center argued that Ross’s role as an apostle does not make him an authority on Christian teachings and that many of Talarico’s positions conflict with “basic Christian principles.”
- Lisa Cusack, president of the Don’t L.A. My Burbank PAC, expressed doubt that Ross’s progressive politics would help Talarico with Christian voters, suggesting the endorsement could alienate the series’ conservative audience.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The exact amount of state funding received by *The Chosen* varies between sources: Texas Film Commission data total $2.86 million, while Rep. Harrison’s X post references “over $850,000.” The discrepancy reflects differing aggregations of grant payments across seasons and a lack of publicly consolidated figures for the program.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A lot of politicians like to talk about Christian values, but you don’t really see that reflected in their legislation or the way that they live, but you do see that in the way that James lives. He loves his neighbor; he takes care of the needy, the sick, the immigrant,” — Jordan Walker Ross
- “Our political system isn’t working for Texans. It’s time for a change,” — Jordan Walker Ross
What’s Next
Both campaigns plan to intensify outreach to faith communities through coalition events and media appearances as the November election approaches. No further legislative actions on the film incentive program have been announced.
