Texas state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, fired back immediately after Ken Paxton won the Republican runoff, calling him “the most corrupt politician in America.” Paxton, in his victory remarks, framed the race as a contest again
The tone for Texas’ U.S. Senate campaign was set before the runoff night even had time to settle.
Minutes after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s victory was announced Tuesday night, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico posted on X: “Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America. He embodies the broken system we’re running against. It’s time to come together: The People vs. Ken Paxton.” In a video also posted to X. Talarico pointed to Paxton’s record. saying. “Three years ago. Ken Paxton was impeached by his own party for using his public office to enrich himself. and his donors. at the expense of the people.” Talarico added. “That kind of corruption is the rot at the core of this broken system.”.
Paxton’s response came quickly, too—during his victory speech. He told the crowd, “This campaign is not about red versus blue. It’s about so much more. My opponent is the most extreme radical the Democrats have ever nominated.” Then he sharpened his message. saying Talarico “is going to be nothing more than a Texas-faced puppet for Chuck Schumer and the national Democrats.”.
Alongside the attack, Paxton leaned into one of the political fault lines that’s been simmering inside his own party. He thanked Donald Trump for his support, despite many Senate Republicans having objected to the president’s endorsement of Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
“When everyone in Washington told him to abandon me and abandon the people of Texas, he didn’t listen,” Paxton said. “Instead, he gave his complete and total endorsement. President Trump is the leader of our party, and his endorsement is the most powerful force in politics.”
Trump himself marked the win on his social media site, posting a graphic depicting himself and Paxton together with the words “Ken Paxton wins! Endorsed by President Trump!”
Cornyn, who lost in the runoff, said he would support Paxton in the general election. But the endorsement still landed uncomfortably for some Senate Republicans. The New York Times reported that many were “livid” at Trump’s last Tuesday endorsement. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she was “supremely disappointed. ” warning that supporting the scandal-ridden Paxton could cost the GOP a safe seat in the upper chamber. “I think that this puts that seat in jeopardy,” she said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) had urged Trump to back Cornyn. whom he saw as the stronger candidate. and he told reporters last week while heading into the weekly GOP luncheon. “It’s his decision.”.
For Talarico. the immediate contrast with Paxton was the centerpiece: Paxton has been plagued by scandal during his tenure as Texas’ attorney general. He was impeached in 2023 for bribery. dereliction of duty. obstruction of justice and abuse of public trust related to accusations that he used his authority to help real estate developer Nate Paul. The Republican-led Texas House impeached Paxton by a vote of 121-23. and he was later acquitted in the Texas State Senate.
All of it is now heading into the general election. with both campaigns taking sharply different bets on what Texas voters will remember—Paxton’s defenders arguing the fight is against an “extreme radical” backed by Democrats. Paxton’s critics pointing to impeachment and the charge that the attorney general used his office to enrich himself and his donors.
The runoff win Tuesday night didn’t just decide a nominee. It also locked in a campaign argument that’s already spilling into the open: whether President Trump’s endorsement will energize Paxton’s path—or turn a once-comfortable seat into a high-stakes gamble for the GOP.
James Talarico Ken Paxton Texas Senate runoff U.S. Senate Donald Trump John Cornyn Lisa Murkowski John Thune Nate Paul impeachment bribery obstruction of justice abuse of public trust
Corrupt, radical, puppet… sounds like they’re just throwing buzzwords again.
I swear every election in Texas is the same headline. Paxton got his win and now the other guy’s calling him the most corrupt in America lol. Like, does anyone actually have receipts or is it just X posts?
Impeached by his own party?? That’s wild. But also I feel like Talarico saying “most corrupt” is just campaign stuff. If Trump endorsed him though, then obviously the whole thing is just a puppet show for Democrats/Republicans depending who you ask. I can’t keep up.
This is what I mean about politics like… Paxton talks about being not red vs blue but then calls him a radical and a puppet for Schumer. Talarico calling him corrupt because of impeachment sounds bad, but I’m still confused like did they actually remove him or was it just a vote? And why is Chuck Schumer even in a Texas Senate runoff, isn’t that supposed to be local? Smh.