Talarico Wins Support From Republicans in Texas Senate Race

Texas Democrat James Talarico is running for the U.S. Senate, and he just got a big boost — from Republicans. On Thursday, Talarico announced that 21 current and former Republican officials and party leaders are supporting his campaign. He is running against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, in this November's election. The group of supporters calls itself 'Republicans for Talarico.'

Several of the Republicans said they are backing Talarico mainly because of Ken Paxton himself. Bryan City Councilman James Edge, a Republican, put it plainly: 'I will support plenty of Republicans this November, but I cannot vote for Ken Paxton.' Edge also said he believes in 'faith, family, the rule of law, and holding public officials accountable when they betray the public trust.' Their statements show that some Republicans feel Paxton has not lived up to the standards they expect from a leader.

The 'Republicans for Talarico' group includes some well-known names. Former Dallas mayor and U.S. Representative Steve Bartlett is part of the group, along with former U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger from Illinois. Retired Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips has also joined. These are people who have held important jobs in government, and their support could help Talarico reach voters who might not usually vote for a Democrat.

One of the founding members of the group is David Maxwell, a former Texas Ranger. Maxwell once worked in Paxton's own office as director of law enforcement. In 2020, he was one of several senior officials who reported Paxton to the FBI, saying Paxton had taken bribes and abused his power. His decision to join the group against Paxton is especially striking because of how closely the two once worked together.

Paxton has faced serious legal trouble in recent years. In 2023, the Texas House of Representatives voted 121 to 23 to impeach him, which means they formally accused him of wrongdoing and removed him from office temporarily. However, the Texas Senate later voted to acquit him, meaning he was found not guilty and returned to his job. The impeachment is one reason some Republicans say they cannot support him.

Talarico says this race is about more than just political parties. 'I'm proud to welcome Republicans into this campaign to take power back for working people,' he said. He added, 'The real fight in this country is not left versus right, it's top versus bottom.' His message seems aimed at bringing together people from both parties who feel that everyday workers are not being treated fairly by those in power.

The Texas Senate seat is getting a lot of national attention. A political group called MAGA Inc., which supports President Trump, recently spent $10 million on TV ads to help Paxton. Democrats have not won a Senate seat in Texas in decades, making it a tough challenge for Talarico. But recent polls show the race is very close, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has rated it a 'toss-up,' meaning either candidate could win.