Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Wednesday that Democratic candidate James Talarico is gaining traction in the traditionally Republican state because voters have yet to learn about what Paxton characterized as his opponent’s socialist record.
“Talarico has a chance because no one has covered him,” Paxton said. “He went on Joe Rogan and got famous. People of Texas haven’t been educated on his socialist views. Once we expose him for what he is, there’s no way he’s going to win Texas.”
The race for Texas’ open U.S. Senate seat has emerged as an unexpectedly close contest in a state where Republicans have dominated statewide elections for decades. Recent polling shows Paxton and Talarico within single digits of each other, with some surveys giving Talarico a narrow advantage and others showing Paxton slightly ahead. The Cook Political Report has moved the Senate contest from “Lean Republican” to “Toss-Up,” underscoring the possibility of a genuinely competitive general election.
Paxton argued that Talarico’s current standing reflects his growing national profile rather than Texans embracing his political positions. Talarico, a state representative from the Austin area, has drawn increased attention nationally, including through an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Paxton predicted that increased scrutiny of Talarico’s positions will ultimately move voters toward Republicans. The attorney general also entered the general election with the backing of President Donald Trump, who has called Paxton “the best attorney general in the United States.”
Additionally, Paxton highlighted election integrity as a key issue he intends to prioritize in Washington. He stated that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act) is “near and dear” to his heart, warning that Republicans “will lose the country” if the legislation isn’t passed and emphasizing that voting must be “credible and fair.”
