Talarico campaign poaches Cornyn staffer in race against Paxton
A former senior staffer for Senator John Cornyn has switched from working for him to joining Democratic State Senator James Talarico’s U.S. Senate campaign as deputy policy director, in a surprising cross-party move. Jacob Smith, who previously served as Cornyn’s deputy legislative director, praised Talarico for focusing on the needs of ordinary people rather than partisan politics. The campaign aims to flip Texas’s traditionally Republican Senate seat, currently held by Republican Ken Paxton, who is facing scandals and legal issues. Smith criticized Paxton’s record, calling him “the most corrupt, self-dealing politician in Texas,” and urged fellow Republicans to hold him accountable at the ballot box. Senate veteran John Cornyn expressed support for Smith’s party switch and emphasized broadening Republican outreach. The race is competitive, with recent polls showing Talarico closely trailing Paxton. The contest garners national attention as Talarico strives to overcome Texas’s deep-red political landscape.
A former senior staffer for outgoing Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has joined Democratic Texas state Sen. James Talarico’s U.S. Senate campaign in an unexpected cross-party move.
Jacob Smith previously served as Cornyn’s deputy legislative director and policy adviser for five years. But now he is working for Talarico’s campaign as deputy policy director.
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“I’ve worked for Republicans like Senator Cornyn my entire career, but this year I’m proud to be joining James Talarico’s campaign,” Smith told the Washington Examiner, through Talarico’s campaign. “Instead of playing partisan politics, Talarico speaks to the needs of everyday people who day in and day out work too hard for too little.”
Talarico is seeking to flip Texas’s deep-red Senate seat in November, when he will face Republican nominee and state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the general election. Cornyn, Smith’s former boss, was defeated in the Republican primary after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton just before the primary election.
“In the Senate, James will fight to lower costs for all 31 million Texans, whether they’re Republicans, Democrats, or independents, so that Texans of all ages have a fighting chance at the American Dream of starting a family, owning a home, and leaving a little behind for their children,” Smith added.
Smith, who has spent most of his career working in Republican politics, also took aim at Paxton’s record. Paxton has come under fire for a wide range of scandals, including fraud indictments, a high-profile state impeachment, whistleblower retaliation allegations, and an extramarital affair.
“Ken Paxton is the most corrupt, self-dealing politician in Texas who would sell working people’s futures to the highest contributor just to hold onto power,” Smith said. “I’m encouraging all my fellow Republicans who know Ken Paxton is unfit to serve in the Senate to finally hold him accountable at the ballot box.”
On Tuesday, Cornyn said he supported his former staffer’s party switch.
“Only in authoritarian countries does someone else get to decide where you work. Not in Texas,” the senator wrote on social media. “Those concerned might want to channel their energy into broadening [Republican] outreach to a coalition of voters rather than just those already converted.”
Before joining Cornyn’s office, Smith served on the House science committee for Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) and as a legislative aide to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS).
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The race is shaping up to be competitive, according to recent polling. A survey released this month by Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center found Talarico with 47% support among respondents, compared to 45% for Paxton.
Cornyn did not endorse Paxton following their bitter primary battle, but he did pledge his support to “support the Republican ticket” in November.
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