Texas Senate Race Turns Toss-Up as Paxton Accuses Talarico of “Socialist” Record

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned Wednesday that Democrat James Talarico is gaining momentum in the traditionally Republican state because voters have yet to learn about what he characterized as his opponent’s socialist record.

“Talarico has a chance because no one has covered him,” Paxton said on Greg Kelly Reports. “He went on Joe Rogan and got famous. People of Texas haven’t been educated on his socialist views. Once we expose him for what he is, there’s no way he’s going to win Texas.”

The race for Texas’ open U.S. Senate seat has emerged as an unexpectedly close contest in a state Republicans have dominated statewide since the 1990s. Recent polling shows Paxton and Talarico within single digits of each other, with some surveys giving Talarico a narrow advantage while others show Paxton slightly ahead. The Cook Political Report recently upgraded the race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss-Up,” underscoring the potential for a genuinely competitive general election.

Paxton argued that Talarico’s current standing reflects his growing national profile rather than genuine support among Texas voters. He accused Talarico of avoiding discussion about his record on “socialist Democrat issues,” predicting increased scrutiny would shift voters toward Republicans. The attorney general, who enters the general election with backing from President Donald Trump—whom he has called “the best attorney general in the United States”—also emphasized election integrity as a key priority for his campaign.

Paxton stated the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE America Act, is “near and dear” to his heart, warning that Republicans “will lose the country” if the legislation isn’t passed and stressing voting must be “credible and fair.”