Dan Patrick Built His Career on Faith. He Told a Fellow Christian He'll Go to Hell.

Patrick’s Words at the Convention

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told Texas Republicans on June 12, 2026, that US Senate candidate James Talarico will “go to hell.” Patrick said it from the stage at the Republican Party of Texas convention in Houston. Talarico, an Austin Democrat who once trained at a seminary, has made his Christian faith the center of his campaign.

“I’m going to pray for that guy, because when he loses the Senate race, if he campaigns against God as he’s been doing, he’s going to Hell, for sure.”

Dan Patrick, Texas GOP convention, June 12, 2026

Patrick also said he had “never seen so much blasphemy from anyone running for office.” Talarico answered the same day.

“Love feels like blasphemy when you worship power.”

James Talarico, June 12, 2026

A sitting official telling voters that a candidate is damned turns a policy disagreement into a holy war. Casting an opponent as an enemy of God is the kind of language researchers warn can inspire violence even when no one gives an order. It also runs against the book Patrick says he is defending.

The Bible Patrick Says He Defends

Patrick told the convention that Talarico campaigns “against God.” The text they share is direct about judgment, the poor, and the sick.

Scripture warns against deciding who is damned.

“Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Matthew 7:1

It is specific about the vulnerable.

“As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Matthew 25:40

In March 2020, Patrick said older Texans should risk death to protect the economy. Talarico said Patrick had “sold out the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable to enrich his donors.”

And it ties faith to how people are treated.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Mark 12:31

Faith Written Into Texas Law

Patrick has spent his career putting his religion into Texas government. In 2025 he passed Senate Bill 10, which orders a copy of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Texas is now one of three states that mandate the Ten Commandments or Bible instruction in public schools.

3 states now mandate Ten Commandments displays or Bible instruction in public schools.

He explained the bill in his own words.

“By placing the Ten Commandments in our public school classrooms, we ensure our students receive the same foundational moral compass as our state and country’s forefathers.”

Dan Patrick, on the passage of Senate Bill 10, 2025

Patrick has hung “In God We Trust” over the Senate dais, added “Under God” to the Texas Pledge of Allegiance, written a book about his faith, and produced a Christian film. He led the 2017 push for a “bathroom bill” targeting transgender Texans. His campaign website runs a “Stand for Christ” page.

What He Said About the Elderly

In March 2020, Patrick went on Fox News and said older Americans should risk dying of COVID-19 to protect the economy.

“No one reached out to me and said, as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren? And if that’s the exchange, I’m all in.”

Dan Patrick, Fox News, March 23, 2020

He repeated the point days later, telling the same host the country mattered more than the risk.

“Those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves, but don’t sacrifice the country.”

Dan Patrick, Fox News, March 2020

What He Blamed After Santa Fe

After a gunman killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School in May 2018, Patrick named the causes he saw. He pointed to abortion, family breakdown, violent movies and video games, too many school doors, and a lack of religion in schools.

“Abortion, the break-up of families, violent movies, and particularly violent video games.”

Dan Patrick, on the causes of school shootings, May 2018

Guns were not on his list. His fix was more of them in classrooms.

“The best way to take that shooter down is with a gun, but even better than that is four or five guns to one.”

Dan Patrick, May 2018

What You Can Do

Call your Texas state senator and representative at the Capitol switchboard, 512-463-4630, and ask them to say publicly that no Texan’s faith disqualifies them from office. Find your legislators at fyi.capitol.texas.gov.
Use the letter below to tell Texas leaders to stop using religion as a political weapon and to reject the same rhetoric from President Trump.
Check your registration and the November ballot. The Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton is on it. Verify at votetexas.gov.
Support the watchdogs. The Texas Freedom Network and Americans United for Separation of Church and State track religious mandates in Texas schools and government.