Texas State Representative Dade Phelan (R-TX) said he will not be supporting fellow Republican and Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton (R-TX) in the upcoming election, citing his controversial past and concerns about his character and integrity.
In an interview with CNN, Rep. Phelan, a lifelong Republican, said he will be skipping the Senate race this November, arguing that his affiliation with the party does not mean he is obligated to support Paxton.
“Just because I wear the same jersey as Ken Paxton does not obligate me to vote for Ken Paxton,” Rep. Phelan said. “If he does not align with my moral and integrity baseline as a candidate for office in the state of Texas, then I’m not inclined to vote for him.”
Paxton’s controversial past has also deterred other Republicans from supporting him. Former state Rep. Glenn Rogers (R-TX), who voted to impeach Paxton in 2023, also pledged never to support him, as have other Republicans.
Rep. Phelan said he does not think he is the only Texan who will be skipping this race.
“I think there are a lot of Texans who feel like I feel, to skip that race,” he said. “That’s what happens when you nominate individuals who do not…share the values of a lot of Republican voters.”
Rep. Phelan served in the state House of Representatives alongside Paxton’s opponent, James Talarico (D-TX), whom he said is running a strong campaign.
“Obviously he is running a good campaign,” Rep. Phelan said. “He is leading the poll, almost every single poll, since September; he has led every single poll with the exception of maybe two.”
Although he won’t be voting for Talarico, Rep. Phelan said Paxton’s nomination alone could be enough to flip the state.
“We can turn this state blue if we don’t nominate the right Republicans,” he said.
