Talarico challenges Paxton to three televised debates in US Senate race
Texas State Rep.James Talarico is challenging incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton to three televised debates amid the approaching U.S. Senate race election. Talarico criticized Paxton, claiming he is controlled by wealthy donors and not answerable to the public, which Paxton’s campaign accepted, stating debates were already planned. Talarico also criticized Paxton’s decision to spend the Fourth of July in the UK during his divorce proceedings, highlighting a fundraising advantage for himself over Paxton.Despite his lead in fundraising, recent polls show a very close race, with Paxton just edging Talarico within the margin of error. The election is highly competitive and contentious, with both candidates seeking to replace Senator John Cornyn.
Texas state Rep. James Talarico is challenging state Attorney General Ken Paxton to three televised debates as the general election for the U.S. Senate race nears.
The Democratic nominee took a shot at his Republican opponent in a Thursday interview on MS Now’s Morning Joe.
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“He doesn’t answer to the public because he’s not a public servant. He is a puppet politician, and I want him to prove me wrong,” Talarico said of Paxton. “We have to be focused on forgiveness and redemption and second chances. So that’s why I am challenging Ken Paxton to three televised debates.”
The Texas Democrat framed Paxton as someone controlled by “billionaire handlers” who don’t want to see him on the debate stage ahead of the midterm elections.
“I’ll be on that debate stage because I answer to the people of Texas,” he added. “Ken Paxton answers to his billionaire mega-donors. We’ll see if they let him show up.”
Paxton’s campaign quickly accepted Talarico’s challenge, saying post-primary debates were always a part of the plan.
“Of course we are going to debate James Talarico, and we look forward to engaging with potential debate hosts,” Paxton adviser Nick Maddux told Houston-based news outlet KHOU 11 in a statement. “James Talarico isn’t just out of touch. He’s a dangerous radical whose record and agenda is so toxic and extreme that he has to hide it behind carefully scripted lies. We look forward to voters getting to learn about the real James Talarico.”
Paxton himself has not directly addressed Talarico’s comments on social media.
Both candidates are seeking to replace Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who lost to Paxton in the Republican primary runoff election. The Senate race is one of the most high-stakes and personally contentious elections in the country this year.
Talarico criticized the Republican attorney general for spending his Fourth of July weekend in the United Kingdom with his alleged mistress, Christian influencer Tracy Duhon. Their reported excursion abroad came amid the divorce proceedings involving Paxton and his longtime wife, Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton. The divorce has not yet been finalized, though the couple is separated.
TALARICO KNOCKS PAXTON FOR SPENDING FOURTH OF JULY IN UK
Talarico holds a fundraising advantage over his opponent, having raised $30 million in the second quarter this year. Comparatively, Paxton collected only $9 million in the past three months. Neither holds a decisive lead in recent polling.
In a June poll from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, Paxton led Talarico by 1 percentage point within the poll’s margin of error.
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