Talarico targets – Texas Democrat James Talarico launched his U.S. Senate general election campaign by arguing that Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton represents a corrupt political establishment, tying impeachment history and rising costs to his case against him. At a Houst
When James Talarico stepped to the microphone in downtown Houston on Wednesday, he didn’t lead with optimism. He led with judgment.
Talarico, a former middle school teacher and state lawmaker from Austin, launched his U.S. Senate general election campaign by framing his Republican opponent. state Attorney General Ken Paxton. as part of a political system built to serve insiders. He told a crowd of about 1. 000 supporters packed into a dance club that Paxton was “the most corrupt politician in America. ” saying Paxton “failed the character test” and “put his own interests above the laws of Texas.”.
Talarico added, “Those are not my words, those are the words of Ken Paxton’s fellow Republicans.” He later tied his pitch to the frustrations voters have been raising through Democratic messaging this year, warning the country faces an “affordability crisis” because “we have a corruption crisis.”
The campaign’s mood is darker than it was during the Democratic primary. Talarico’s earlier message leaned on a more spiritual theme. Now he is leaning into the same corruption arguments against Paxton that Republican Senate leaders feared could make the attorney general a weaker candidate—especially after Paxton beat Sen. John Cornyn in Tuesday’s Republican runoff.
In Houston, the signs reflected the shift. Supporters held “Talarico” placards, but the new theme on the other side was blunt: “THE PEOPLE vs. KEN PAXTON.” The phrase was introduced on Wednesday—the same day that marked the third anniversary of Paxton’s impeachment allegations. Paxton was impeached on allegations that he used his office to benefit a wealthy political donor. and he was acquitted on all 20 articles of impeachment.
Paxton’s supporters have used that acquittal as proof, saying he and President Donald Trump—who endorsed him—were victims of political persecution. At Talarico’s rally, the framing appeared to land.
Monique Green, a retired elementary school teacher from Houston, said the first two words on her sign mattered most: “It’s a declaration that it’s about us,” she said. “We are the ones, all of us, what we can definitely do together. And he inspires us to act. He doesn’t just talk — he believes.”
Campaign aides said Talarico raised $600,000 in small, online donations within two hours of Paxton’s win in the Republican Texas runoff on Tuesday. They said it was the most lucrative two hours for his campaign since he announced he was running in September 2025.
The attacks quickly turned into something closer to campaign branding. One of the first speakers at Wednesday’s rally was Ann Johnson. a Democratic state representative who co-led Paxton’s impeachment alongside a Republican lawmaker. Talarico emphasized that the impeachment over corruption allegations came from the Republican majority in the Texas statehouse and said Paxton escaped accountability “for years.”.
Paxton did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. After Talarico finished speaking. Paxton posted a link to his campaign’s donation page on the social platform X and launched a personal attack on his opponent. writing: “James Talarico and his big vegan allies have raised a fortune trying to stop the America First agenda. I need your help!”.
It echoed a line Paxton used after his runoff victory on Tuesday. Talarico answered immediately at the Houston rally, telling supporters, “I’ve been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton’s first indictment.”
Paxton’s team appears to be testing whether that kind of jab can define vulnerabilities in the race. The strategy has been reminiscent of Trump-era campaigning, including trying nicknames for Talarico. Those nicknames have included “TalaFreako. ” which Talarico used to his advantage Wednesday night. telling supporters they could go to his campaign website to buy T-shirts stamped with the new nickname.
The campaign also touched on broader cultural and religious themes. In an interview with CBS News ahead of Wednesday’s rally, Talarico responded to claims about his beliefs on gender. He said that what he means is that “God cannot be defined by human categories” and there were “two sexes. men and women.”.
He added, “I also know there’s a very small percentage of people who have these chromosomal abnormalities, and I believe that they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Even with the focus on policy and corruption allegations. the race’s tone is sharpening around a central fight: whether Paxton’s impeachment acquittal and his supporters’ claims of persecution will insulate him. or whether voters will instead hear Talarico’s message—carrying the courtroom language of “THE PEOPLE vs. KEN PAXTON” into concerns about cost, trust, and accountability.
James Talarico Ken Paxton Texas Senate race U.S. Senate impeachment Houston rally Ann Johnson John Cornyn affordability crisis corruption allegations campaign fundraising
Ken Paxton is just who they need to blame for everything…
So Talarico is saying Paxton is corrupt bc of impeachment stuff? I mean impeachment was 3 years ago, aren’t they supposed to move on? Also these “affordability crisis” lines always sound like they just wanna win votes.
I don’t even get it. If Paxton already beat Cornyn (like in the news) then why is this still the whole campaign? Sounds like desperation to me. And the whole “THE PEOPLE vs KEN PAXTON” thing… like okay, who else is standing with the people? lol.
Impeachment allegations? That doesn’t automatically mean he’s guilty guilty. But somehow they’re using it like a slam dunk and now “rising costs” is tied to it?? That part makes no sense. I heard on TikTok that Paxton’s the one who fixed a bunch of stuff so idk why they act like he’s the most corrupt in America. Politics is wild, man.