Close US Senate race in Texas pits Ken Paxton against James Talarico

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat state legislator James Talarico are locked in a tightly contested US Senate race, with the outcome seen as crucial for both the Republican stronghold in Texas and the Senate majority.

Paxton secured the Republican nomination by defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a bruising primary, aided by a late endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Despite the endorsement, Senate leaders warned that Paxton’s legal troubles – including a 2023 impeachment and a federal corruption probe that ended without charges – could make him vulnerable.

Talarico is campaigning on a message that frames Paxton as emblematic of a corrupt system that favours billionaires, while highlighting rising costs of living and the war in Iran as issues eroding Republican support. He has sought to attract moderate Republicans and independents, downplaying partisan divisions and focusing on economic inequality.

The race has attracted significant funding, with Elon Musk contributing $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which in turn donated to a Texas PAC supporting Paxton, and an additional $10 million to the Lone Star Liberty PAC. Talarico has criticised these donations as evidence of outsized moneyed influence in politics.

Both candidates have highlighted cost‑of‑living concerns, but Paxton has portrayed Talarico as too progressive for Texas, citing past comments on gender issues, while Talarico has moderated his stance, opposing transgender athletes in women’s sports only where safety is at risk.

Source: ABC News. Photo: Trac Vu / Pexels.