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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is promising a more aggressive phase of his U.S. Senate campaign against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, telling Newsmax that voters will soon hear more about Talarico’s legislative record and political positions. Paxton made the remarks while being pressed about concerns that Republicans have limited time to define the Democratic nominee in what has developed into a surprisingly tight statewide race.
During the interview, Newsmax host Krysia Lenzo challenged Paxton over when his campaign intended to deliver on its promise to expose Talarico’s record, noting concern among Republicans about the stakes of the contest. Paxton responded that his campaign was rebuilding financially after an expensive Republican runoff and said voters should soon begin seeing a more visible effort. “Once we expose [Talarico] for who he really is, the radical leftist views that he has, I think there’s no way that Texas can elect him,” Paxton said.
Details & Background
Paxton emerged from a bruising Republican primary battle against longtime U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, eventually winning after President Donald Trump endorsed him late in the contest. Paxton said the runoff depleted his campaign resources, leaving him to rebuild as Talarico moved into the general election with a substantial fundraising operation. He told Newsmax that the financial imbalance had delayed the broader advertising and opposition effort Republicans expect to see against the Democrat.
Money has become a significant storyline in the race. The Texas Tribune reported that Talarico and allied groups had raised substantially more than Paxton and supportive organizations, giving Democrats resources to compete aggressively in a state where they have repeatedly fallen short in statewide elections. Republican groups are now attempting to unite after months in which Paxton and Cornyn’s allies spent heavily attacking each other during the GOP nomination fight.
Polling underscores why Republicans are paying attention. The Texas Tribune’s polling tracker showed Paxton and Talarico running neck and neck, with its latest listed survey giving Paxton a one-point advantage after several polls had shown Talarico narrowly ahead. Those differences are small enough that neither party can treat the race as settled, particularly given the enormous national importance of every Senate seat.
The ideological contrast is considerable. Republicans have attacked Talarico over positions involving immigration, gender policy and economic issues, while Talarico has attempted to portray Paxton as ethically compromised and politically divisive. On immigration in particular, both campaigns recognize the political importance of Texas border communities. Talarico has sought to win back Hispanic voters who moved toward Trump, while Paxton has emphasized enforcement, border security and America First policies.
Reactions
Paxton told Newsmax that Republicans would soon concentrate more heavily on Talarico’s voting history in the Texas Legislature. “We are going to expose more of his record,” Paxton said, arguing that Talarico has altered some of his positions as the general election approaches. Paxton said the Democrat’s previous votes and public statements would provide Republicans with material to make their case directly to Texas voters.
The Newsmax questioning reflected anxiety among some conservatives that the campaign must accelerate. Lenzo noted that the clock was moving quickly and pressed Paxton on when Republicans would make their case. Paxton attributed the slower start to the lengthy primary and fundraising deficit but said his operation was building toward a more aggressive effort.
Republican organizations are also beginning to rally around Paxton after supporting different candidates during the primary. The Club for Growth endorsed Paxton and launched an effort criticizing Talarico, while Republican Sen. Ted Cruz pledged to help Paxton with fundraising and grassroots mobilization. Those moves are early indications that Republicans are attempting to close the divisions left by the contentious nomination battle.
Talarico, meanwhile, is running a campaign heavily focused on affordability and working-class economic themes. He has traveled across Texas promoting proposals involving housing, healthcare, education and workers while attacking corporate influence. His strategy also includes attempting to regain support in border communities that shifted toward Trump after voter frustration over illegal immigration and rising living costs.
Why This Matters to You
The Texas Senate contest has consequences far beyond the state. Senate majorities determine which party controls committees, advances legislation and confirms presidential nominees. A competitive race in a state Republicans have relied on for decades forces the GOP to devote money and political attention to territory it would ordinarily expect to hold comfortably.
For conservative voters, the central challenge is whether Republicans can successfully define Talarico’s record while consolidating support behind Paxton after a damaging primary. Democrats see the contest differently: they view Talarico as an opportunity to compete for a statewide victory that has remained beyond their reach for decades. Current polling suggests neither side can dismiss the other.
Immigration is likely to remain especially important. Texas sits at the center of the national border debate, and Trump made major gains among Hispanic voters in border counties amid frustration with the previous administration’s handling of migration. Talarico is attempting to appeal to those communities on economic grounds while supporting increased Border Patrol staffing and technology, whereas Paxton is positioning himself as the more consistent defender of Trump-style enforcement.
The federal government’s handling of border enforcement, illegal immigration, costs and public safety will therefore remain intertwined with the political fight in Texas. Paxton believes that once voters receive a fuller picture of Talarico’s record, the state’s conservative instincts will prevail. Talarico is betting that economic frustrations and dissatisfaction with Paxton can overcome decades of Republican statewide dominance. With the candidates virtually even in recent polling, Texas has become a Senate battleground neither party can afford to ignore.
