Additional Coverage:
- ‘Fake’ moderate Talarico’s Texas surge tests Paxton in fight to hold crucial GOP Senate seat (foxnews.com)
As Democrats set their sights on a rare statewide win in Texas, Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton remains unfazed despite polls showing his Democratic rival, James Talarico, holding a narrow lead.
Democrats view this election as a prime opportunity to flip Texas blue after years of attempts, a shift that would deal a significant blow to the GOP’s hopes of maintaining Senate control. Speaking with Fox News Digital following a Houston rally, Paxton acknowledged Talarico’s lead but attributed it to the early fundraising edge his opponent gained during the three months Paxton was still locked in a runoff against incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
“He had three months to raise funds and has been spending about $2 million weekly to build that lead,” Paxton explained. Still, the Texas Attorney General expressed confidence that voters will reject the “real James Talarico” once they learn more about his record. Talarico, a state Democratic legislator, has previously made headlines for controversial statements, including claims that “God is nonbinary,” advocacy for recognizing six sexes, and support for reducing meat consumption to address climate change.
Paxton dismissed polls suggesting Texans aren’t concerned about Talarico’s views or voting history. “I don’t believe Texans don’t care about his support for a state income tax, his stance on transgender children, opposition to the oil and gas industry, or votes against border security bills. I’ve been around long enough to know that’s not the case,” he said.
Meanwhile, Talarico has admitted some of his past comments “missed the mark” when confronted over remarks like the nonbinary God assertion.
Both candidates continue to campaign vigorously across Texas. A recent Fox News poll placed Talarico slightly ahead at 51% to 48%, with an even larger advantage among highly motivated voters. Notably, 59% of voters expressed concerns about Paxton’s character, compared to 47% worried about Talarico being “too extreme” for the state.
Paxton accused Talarico of presenting a moderate facade while hiding a far-left “socialist” agenda, citing shifting positions on issues like transgender participation in sports and climate policies. “All his stances have suddenly changed for the general election, but we have his votes and his words-and those will be highlighted,” Paxton asserted.
Fundraising numbers highlight a significant disparity: Talarico outraised Paxton by more than three to one in the latest quarter, securing $31.6 million compared to Paxton’s $9.3 million. Additionally, about half of Talarico’s donations come from outside Texas, mainly California, whereas Paxton’s out-of-state contributions hover around 25%.
Despite these challenges, Paxton remains optimistic, noting that primaries often leave parties divided but that Republicans are coming together ahead of the general election. He emphasized his campaign’s focus on affordability and deregulation, proposing measures such as a $50,000 tax deduction for first-time homebuyers, a $25,000 annual deduction for medical expenses, doubling the child tax credit, and incentives for healthy living.
“We’re still three months away from Election Day,” Paxton said. “When voters see the real James Talarico-not the version he’s trying to sell now-they’ll make their choice.”
“Do we want a socialist Democrat in Texas? I believe the answer is no.”