(WASHINGTON) -- Texas state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee in the pivotal U.S. Senate race in Texas, appeared on Wednesday to walk back some of his past comments on religion that have become a major line of attack in the race against Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
When asked about his comments in 2021 during floor debate in the legislature that "God is non-binary" in an interview on ABC News Live, Talarico replied that "Ken Paxton is clipping my past cringey comments to distract from his career of corruption," as part of a "playbook" of "distraction and division."
When pressed on his comments, Talarico replied that they were "meant to be deliberately provocative" and that he believes "you can't use human categories to define God." He said that Republicans are seizing on the comments "to try and distract from the corrupt system that Ken Paxton embodies."
ABC News reached out to Paxton's campaign for response to Talarico's comments.
Talarico's comments along with other statements on transgender rights and immigration were highlighted in Paxton's first general election ad, which ends with the tagline "Radical Talarico: too low-T for Texas." "Low-T" is a reference to levels of testosterone that is used to insult men for a lack of masculinity.
Republicans have used transgender rights as a major line of attack, including in the 2024 presidential race. The DNC's after-action report on the election identified the Trump campaign's attack ads labeling his opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, as "for they/them" as one of the most effective ads of the cycle.
Democrats think Talarico's potential to reach beyond the Democratic base and appeal to independents and Republicans disaffected by Paxton's candidacy could be enough to win the seat and possibly control of the Senate next year.
Paxton faced ethical and personal questions during the primary. He was acquitted in an Republican-driven impeachment trial in 2023. Paxton’s wife filed for divorce last year, citing “biblical grounds.”
Republican leadership, which had encouraged President Donald Trump to back Paxton's opponent in the primary, Sen. John Cornyn, as more electable in the general election, have begun to coalesce around Paxton as the Republican nominee.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a radio appearance Wednesday that Republicans were going "all-in" on Paxton and attacked Talarico as a "far left liberal."
The National Republican Senate Committee, which backed Cornyn in his primary race, has taken down past press releases and ads attacking Paxton and has issued a statement opposing Talarico without mentioning Paxton by name.
Talarico has made explicit overtures to Trump voters and Cornyn voters, who are necessary to win any statewide election in Texas, saying, "There is a lot of disillusionment among the president's supporters here in Texas, and I'm extending an open hand to those Trump voters. So that they know they have a place in our campaign."
While Cornyn has not explicitly endorsed Paxton in the election, he has said that he will "support the Republican ticket."
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to clarify Texas State Rep. James Talarico's comments. It has also been corrected to note that the National Republican Senate Committee, not the Senate Majority PAC, has taken down Paxton its attack ads and opposes Talarico.
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