«The Chosen» actor Jordan Walker Ross backs James Talarico in Texas Senate race
Jordan Walker Ross, who plays the apostle Little James in the faith-based series «The Chosen», endorsed Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and helped launch a faith-based voter coalition. The endorsement drew criticism from a Republican state lawmaker over film subsidies and from the Paxton campaign over Talarico's religious claims.
Jordan Walker Ross, the actor who portrays the apostle Little James in the faith-based television series «The Chosen», endorsed Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico on Thursday, helping launch a faith-based voter coalition ahead of November's election. The endorsement immediately drew criticism from a Republican state lawmaker over taxpayer-funded film subsidies and from the campaign of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton over Talarico's appeal to Christian voters.
Ross announced his support in a campaign video promoting «Faithful Texans for Talarico», an initiative intended to attract religious voters. In the video, Ross said that many politicians talk about Christian values but do not reflect them in legislation or in their lives, while Talarico does. «He loves his neighbor; he takes care of the needy, the sick, the immigrant», Ross said.
A spokesperson for Paxton's campaign rejected Talarico's religious appeals, saying that «everything about James Talarico is fake» and accusing the Democrat of using his beliefs to justify progressive positions on social issues. The spokesperson said Talarico's version of Christianity requires followers to support transgender policies, disavow the oil and gas industry, back late-term abortion and welcome immigrants seeking asylum, adding that such passages could not be found in the Bible.
Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison also criticized the endorsement on X, accusing state lawmakers of subsidizing actors who support Democrats. Harrison took aim at Texas Senate Bill 22, which expanded the state's film incentive program. Texas Film Commission records show that The Chosen Texas LLC received approximately $862,527 for its second season in 2022 and another $1.995 million for its fourth season in March 2025, totaling nearly $2.86 million. Both payments preceded the new legislation's September 2025 effective date.
In a follow-up statement, Harrison called the film program a «socialist scheme to give billions of tax dollars to rich, woke, Hollywood leftists». He argued that production offsets directly or indirectly subsidize actor salaries and pledged to introduce legislation next session to repeal what he called «indefensible» Hollywood subsidies.
Ross defended the film incentives and rejected the suggestion that actors' political endorsements should affect production opportunities. «The growing film industry in TX creates thousands of jobs for Texans who fall on both sides of the aisle», Ross said in a statement. «For Harrison to suggest that those opportunities should be taken away simply because some actors — like myself — endorse Democratic candidates is unconstitutional». He added that voicing opinions is one of the beautiful things about the country and encouraged fellow actors and filmmakers on the right and left to do the same.
Brittany Hughes, a video host at the Media Research Center, criticized the endorsement, arguing that Ross' role as an apostle on «The Chosen» did not make him an authority on Christian teachings. «As is any American, Ross is free to vote for whatever candidate he chooses», she said. «But American voters aren't obligated to take a theological lesson from an actor simply because he plays an apostle on TV». She added that many of Talarico's public positions are in total opposition to basic Christian principles, citing his support for so-called gender transitioning.
Lisa Cusack, president of the Don't L.A. My Burbank PAC, also questioned whether Hollywood actors could influence Texas voters. «I highly doubt this will help Talarico with voters, but Ross' outspoken progressive politics could alienate Christian audiences from The Chosen», she said. «Christians and Texas voters can see through this kind of set piece Christianity».
Ross rejected the idea that political differences necessarily alienate fans, saying he welcomes conversations with viewers who disagree with him. «As a progressive actor on a TV show with a largely conservative audience, I've had so many wonderful opportunities to engage in challenging conversations with my fans and I also do so from a place of compassion and curiosity», he said.
Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, faces Paxton, who announced his own «Pastors for Paxton» coalition with 27 faith leaders the same week. The contest has become a focal point for debates over the role of religion in public life and the influence of cultural figures in electoral politics.
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