With under a month until the 2026 midterm elections, Republicans are rallying behind Texas Senate candidate and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) to secure a Republican victory in the Senate race.
After President Donald Trump visited the Lone Star State twice this month to campaign for Paxton, Vice President JD Vance made his own appearance this week to rally support for Paxton’s campaign.
Vance pointed to Paxton’s record of taking on pharmaceutical companies and fighting the opioid crisis as attorney general, arguing he fought pharmaceutical companies that “set this opioid problem loose on our communities.”
“As attorney general, Ken Paxton launched lawsuit after lawsuit against some of the biggest companies in the industry,” Vance said, adding he won “billions” for Texans.
The vice president said Paxton stood up to powerful corporate interests to protect Texans.
“The pharmaceutical industry told Ken Paxton that he would pay a price if he fought for Texas,” he said. “You know what Ken Paxton did? He gave a big middle finger and said, ‘I’m going to fight for Texas because you brought this poison into our state and you shouldn’t have.’”
As Republicans continue to campaign on anti-fraud efforts, Vance alluded to Paxton’s record of taking legal action against companies and organizations he says harm Texans through fraud schemes.
“You don’t mess with Texas…because if you do, Ken Paxton is going to kick your ass,” Vance said.
Along with supporting Paxton, Vance also announced the Trump administration’s plan to increase oil production in Trent, Texas. The vice president said this will continue to bring more “good jobs” to members of the community.
But Vance warned that electing Democratic candidate James Talarico (D-TX) could jeopardize Texas’s energy industry and conservative values.
“You’ve got incredible resources, the best people in the world, but the only thing that could screw it up is to elect ‘Talafreako’ to the United States Senate,” Vance said.
