Following Tuesday’s primary runoff elections, the people of Texas have decided Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) and State Representative James Talarico (D-TX) will face off for a seat in the Senate this fall, and neither is holding back in their campaigns.
Last week, General Paxton received President Donald Trump’s endorsement over Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), sparking controversy among members of Congress. Paxton beat Sen. Cornyn by a wide margin in the primary elections.
In his victory address, Paxton highlighted what is to come in the months leading up to the November general elections. His campaign will mainly focus on issues like border security, economic stability and public education, he said.
“This campaign is not about red versus blue,” Paxton said to the crowd. “It’s about so much more.”
Paxton’s speech later shifted to his opponent, Talarico, whom he said is the “most extreme radical the Democrats have ever nominated.” Paxton also cited several nicknames for Talarico, including “Tofu Talarico,” “Sixgender Jimmy” and “Low Talarico,” to support his argument.
“But no matter what you call him, let me tell you this: James Talarico is a threat to everything we hold dear in this state and in this country,” Paxton said. “He’s a vegan who thinks God is non-binary and that there’s actually six biological sexes.”
In an interview with MS Now, Talarico responded directly to these claims, arguing Paxton was taking comments out of context to fuel the “culture war” that divides both parties.
“The only way he’s going to hold on to power is through distraction and division,” Talarico said. “So we’re going to keep telling the truth over the course of this campaign.”
Talarico called Paxton the “most corrupt politician in America,” pointing to past allegations against him for securities fraud, abuse of office and bribery-related misconduct.
In 2023, Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives for similar allegations, but was acquitted by the Senate a few months later.
“He was impeached by his own party for using his public office, his position of trust, to enrich himself and his donors at our expense,” Talarico said.
Pointing to his own record in the Texas House of Representatives, Talarico said he helped pass over 60 pieces of legislation to cut property taxes, raise teacher pay, lower housing costs and more.
“I’m going to put that record up against Ken Paxton’s criminal record any day of the week,” he said.
But Paxton also turned to his accomplishments while serving as attorney general for over a decade, spotlighting his lawsuits against major companies for taking advantage of children and hinting at what he will focus on in Congress.
“We live in dangerous times, and that’s exactly why I’ll support our military and be ready to confront the threat from communist China, which is our number one geopolitical enemy,” he said.
Both Talarico and Paxton accused the other of being a political “puppet” for their respective national parties — even as they struck a similar message on whom they would serve in Washington, D.C.
Paxton said he would continue fighting for Texans.
“I’m not just running against the Democrats,” Paxton said. “I’m running to deliver for you, just as I have as attorney general.”
Talarico echoed that sentiment.
“So I’m not interested in going to Washington, D.C., to serve one political party,” Talarico said. “I’m going to Washington, D.C., to serve the people of Texas.”
