Republican and Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Phillips Backs James Talarico

A handful of Texas Republicans have come out in support of Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico (D-TX), with the latest being former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Phillips.

In a recent opinion piece for Beaumont Enterprise, Phillips made the case for why he believes Talarico is better suited for the job. He argues that Talarico knows “firsthand how a legislative body can function in a bipartisan spirit.”

Phillips is the latest longtime Republican to back Talarico over Republican nominee Ken Paxton (R-TX). Others include former Texas Republican Party Executive Director Wayne Thorburn and Neil Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush and younger brother of former President George W. Bush.

Talarico’s campaign also launched Republicans for Talarico in September, a coalition of over 20 Texas Republican figures supporting the Democratic nominee.

Phillips argues Paxton’s long history of controversy would undermine his ability to represent Texas on the national stage.

Paxton has faced felony securities fraud charges and was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 over allegations of corruption and abuse of office. He was acquitted by the Texas Senate, and the securities fraud case was later dismissed after he completed a pretrial diversion program without admitting guilt.

“Paxton’s public career in Texas has been marred almost since its inception by charges of impropriety,” Phillips expressed. “And his high-profile Senate race has exposed these controversies to tens of millions of Americans.”

Phillips also expressed that Republicans in Congress as a whole have strayed from the party’s “traditional beliefs,” which he argued the GOP must restore to succeed in 2028 and beyond.

“In the last decade, core Republican principles like limited government, free enterprise, debt reduction and support for emerging democracies across the globe have been jettisoned in favor of government ownership in private companies, record deficit spending, endless vanity projects and cozying up to foreign strongmen instead of strengthening our alliances with friendly nations,” he commented.

What Congress needs, Phillips said, are lawmakers who will uphold its constitutional responsibility to make laws and work across party lines rather than deepen partisan gridlock.

“But unwavering Trump cheerleaders such as Ken Paxton should be returned to private life, allowing the remaining Republican officials to reclaim their party’s proud and principled heritage,” Phillips commented.