Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrated a May 26 Republican primary runoff win while attacking Democratic state Rep. James Talarico with mocking nicknames and claims that Talarico is a threat. The rhetoric drew attention because Paxton’s own political his
When Ken Paxton walked into the aftermath of his May 26 Republican primary victory, he didn’t just claim a win—he went for the throat.
The Texas Attorney General, 63, quickly piled on Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. 37. using a string of mocking nicknames in rapid succession: “Tofu Talarico. ” “James Tala-freako” and “Low-T Talarico.” Paxton then added a sharper line meant to frame the opponent as dangerous. saying. “But no matter what you call him. let me tell you this. James Talarico is a threat to everything we hold dear here in this state and in this country.”.
Paxton’s campaign wasn’t operating in a vacuum. On the same broader track of personal attacks, Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters described Talarico as “a creep,” said, “He’s a vegan,” claimed, “He thinks God is nonbinary,” and alleged, “He wants to mutilate children.”
For Paxton, and for some of his party’s messengers, the point is simple: portray Democrats as extremists. But the uncomfortable question hanging over Texas politics is harder—why does the job of labeling extremism keep landing on the very people with some of the most heavily documented controversies?.
As the primary runoff moved forward, Paxton—who looked ahead to November—was heading toward another high-stakes stage, with Senator John Cornyn conceding the Texas primary runoff.
Paxton’s personal style in the campaign made the contrast unavoidable. He and the political operation around him have gone after Talarico’s everyday life choices, including food. Talarico, in the account at hand, once ordered a breakfast taco with potato, egg and cheese on it. Paxton’s side then labeled him a vegan. Talarico has confirmed multiple times that he is a carnivore, breakfast-taco order notwithstanding.
The sharper criticism is that this kind of mockery—calling someone extreme because of a dietary label—has become a substitute for substantive disagreement. And in a campaign environment where the most outrageous language often dominates headlines. the debate over extremism becomes less about ideology and more about who is allowed to talk loudest.
The broader record around Paxton is part of what keeps clashing with the accusations against Talarico. A summary of his background includes that he was impeached by the Republican-controlled state House on multiple charges of abuse of office. The same summary says his own senior staffers reported him to the FBI. alleging he illegally used his position to help a prominent donor. It also states that his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce last year on “biblical grounds,” citing adultery.
Beyond those controversies. the account also lists major legal and political disputes: Paxton headed up a lawsuit attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election; sued the Biden administration more than 100 times as Texas’ attorney general; and was behind one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country.
His Senate campaign, according to the record cited, also included anti-Muslim propaganda—accusing his Republican primary opponent of having “a special place in his heart for radical Islam” and being in favor of “Muslim mass immigration.”
The tactics weren’t limited to politics or policy. The account points to comments from Brooks Potteiger. a pastor and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s spiritual adviser. who agreed with a podcast host who said of Talarico. “I pray that God kills him.” Talarico responded by posting on social media: “You may pray for my death. Pastor. but I still love you. I love you more than you could ever hate me.”.
Those moments help explain why the party’s language about “threats” and “extremists” lands with such force for critics. The campaign’s messaging portrays danger coming from a Democratic state lawmaker. while the controversies surrounding Paxton are laid out as something far more extensive—spanning impeachment. staff accusations. and repeated litigation.
The sequence of events also mirrors a familiar political tradeoff: instead of focusing on policy arguments. the campaign spotlights insults tied to personal identity and lifestyle. In one case, the claim that ordering a breakfast taco makes someone a vegan becomes fuel for larger fears. In another. a religious adviser’s statement about praying for death is met with an insistence on love rather than escalation.
Paxton and his allies, meanwhile, press forward. The runway is set for the next phase of the Texas race and for November, after Cornyn’s concession and Paxton’s victory in the primary runoff.
Whether voters see the slurs as partisan theater—or as a sign of how quickly extremism is assigned in one direction—will depend on what they decide is more alarming: the fight over Talarico’s nickname, or the long list of questions tied to Paxton himself.
Ken Paxton Texas politics James Talarico Republican primary runoff John Cornyn Joe Gruters U.S. Senate election impeachment FBI allegations abortion ban 2020 election lawsuit campaign rhetoric
Lol Ken Paxton is cooked.
I don’t even know who Talarico is but those nicknames sound childish. Also calling someone a threat over… breakfast taco vibes? This is why politics feels insane.
Wait so is he literally saying God is nonbinary?? Like I swear I heard that somewhere else too. And “wants to mutilate children” sounds like straight up made up internet stuff. If any of that’s true then why isn’t it getting handled in court or something.
This whole thing is just more of the same, like they can’t argue policy so they pick on whatever. Paxton’s done controversial stuff himself, so the “extremist” labeling is rich. I saw the headline and thought they meant Talarico was the extremist in his own record but now it’s like the article is saying Paxton is too?? Texas politics man, it’s always a mess. Also the vegan thing feels like it’s being used as a slur, which is wild.