Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Talarico will go to hell

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick declared Friday that Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico would "go to hell" for his interpretation of the Bible, sharply escalating a religious and political conflict at the heart of a pivotal midterm race. Patrick made the remarks while speaking at the Republican Party of Texas convention in Houston, accusing Talarico of bringing religion into the campaign and promoting blasphemy.

Patrick told convention attendees that Talarico had decided to bring the Bible into the election and that he had never seen so much blasphemy from anyone running for office. He said he would pray for Talarico and asserted that if the Democrat continued campaigning against God, he was going to hell, for sure. Talarico, a state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, responded on social media Friday evening, writing that Patrick has sold out the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable to enrich his donors. He added, "Love feels like blasphemy when you worship power."

The Senate race pits Talarico, who hopes to be the first Democrat elected statewide in Texas in over 30 years, against Republican incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton. Democrats see potential...