{"id":2611915,"date":"2026-06-08T09:25:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T13:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ken-paxtons-defense-attorney-endorses-james-talarico-in-race-for-texas-senate-seat\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T09:25:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T13:25:38","slug":"ken-paxtons-defense-attorney-endorses-james-talarico-in-race-for-texas-senate-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ken-paxtons-defense-attorney-endorses-james-talarico-in-race-for-texas-senate-seat\/","title":{"rendered":"Ken Paxton&#8217;s defense attorney endorses James Talarico in race for Texas Senate seat"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fken-paxtons-defense-attorney-endorses-james-talarico-in-race-for-texas-senate-seat%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2611915&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ken Paxton\u2019s former personal lawyer, Houston defense attorney Dan Cogdell, is backing Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico for Texas\u2019s 2026 Senate seat-an unexpected break from Paxton,whom Cogdell previously defended in Paxton\u2019s 2023 impeachment and also supported financially,according to Federal Election Commission records.<\/p>\n<p>The endorsement adds to the high-stakes, heavily watched contest following Paxton\u2019s GOP runoff win over Sen. John Cornyn, setting up a matchup between Paxton and Talarico that Democrats hope to use to flip Texas. Cogdell argues that Talarico prioritizes unity and can appeal to Democrats as well as independents and Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>The race is already <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >drawing record primary spending<\/a> and is being fueled by sharp, ideological attacks: Paxton criticizes Talarico\u2019s remarks on transgender people and meat-eating, while Talarico counters with focus on Paxton\u2019s legal troubles and impeachment. Polling so far has shown the candidates within single digits, with support shifting between them.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4370\">Ken Paxton<\/a>\u2018s former personal lawyer is bucking his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nancy-pelosis-husband-finally-charged-with-dui\/\" title=\"Nancy Pelosi\u2019s Husband Finally Charged With DUI\">high-profile client<\/a> to endorse Democratic candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17710\">James Talarico<\/a> for Texas\u2019s U.S. Senate seat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Paxton\u2019s GOP runoff victory against incumbent Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"965\">John Cornyn<\/a> (R-TX), Texas solidified the long-awaited matchup between Trump-endorsed Paxton and vocal Christian Democrat Talarico in late May. The Lone Star State\u2019s 2026 Senate race has drawn national attention and donations, as Democrats aim to flip the state blue with Talarico and Republicans aim to send MAGA-hardliner Paxton to Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4597065\/house-gop-legislative-backlog-midterms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>House GOP faces growing legislative backlog ahead of midterms<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4597640\/platner-socialist-democrats-tea-party\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner candidacy a big test for Tea Party-like socialist Democrats\u2019 uprising<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4598372\/ro-khanna-graham-platner-abuse\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Khanna tells Platner to stop attacking ex after abuse allegations: \u2018I believe her\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a race where endorsements have been central, Houston defense attorney Dan Cogdell\u2019s backing of Talarico, which was reported by <em>NOTUS<\/em> but confirmed to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, comes as a bit of a surprise, as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2023\/09\/01\/ken-paxton-impeachment-witnesses-parties\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2023\/09\/01\/ken-paxton-impeachment-witnesses-parties\/\">he defended<\/a> Paxton in his 2023 impeachment trial and has donated to his campaign, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/receipts\/?data_type=processed&#038;committee_id=C00901918&#038;committee_id=C00930446&#038;contributor_name=Cogdell&#038;two_year_transaction_period=2026&#038;two_year_transaction_period=2024&#038;two_year_transaction_period=2022&#038;line_number=F3-11AI\">Federal Election Commission data<\/a>. <em>NOTUS<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/2026-election\/ken-paxton-lawyer-james-talarico-endorsement\">reported<\/a> that Cogdell, who has made statements <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/stephen_neukam\/status\/2063926496276738247?s=20\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/stephen_neukam\/status\/2063926496276738247?s=20\">denouncing Trump<\/a>, said Paxton \u201chas lost sight of his core mission, which is to represent the people of Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUnlike Ken, I believe to my core that James Talarico believes in unity over division and that he knows how to assemble not only Democrats, but Independents and Republicans, and we need that right now,\u201d Cogdell told <em>NOTUS<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has reached out to the Paxton and Talarico campaigns for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race, which has already <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fox4news.com\/news\/texas-senate-primary-most-expensive\">broken records<\/a> for the amount of funding spent in the primaries alone, is set to be one of the most expensive and dramatic races of the 2026 election cycle as Talarico and Paxton duke it out for the seat after Cornyn fell in the GOP runoff. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586358\/gop-low-t-strategy-against-james-talarico\/\">THE GOP\u2019S \u2018LOW-T\u2019 STRATEGY AGAINST TALARICO IN TEXAS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton is hitting Talarico hard for comments he has made about transgender people and meat-eating, while Talarico is coming right back with a focus on Paxton\u2019s legal scandals and impeachment. Each is pitting the other as too radical for Texas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/texas-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html\">polling<\/a> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donald-trump-dominates-in-2024-general-election-odds\/\" title=\"Donald Trump Dominates in 2024 General Election Odds\">general election matchup<\/a> so far has been within single digits, swinging the favor between the two candidates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paxton\u2019s former lawyer backs Democrat James Talarico for Texas Senate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2611916,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-wjnoarypw-1779982140741-e1779996698831.jpg?1780528059&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[59577,38244,44928],"class_list":["post-2611915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-james-talarico","tag-ken-paxton","tag-texas-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-wjnoarypw-1779982140741-e1779996698831.jpg?1780528059&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2611915"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611915\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2611919,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611915\/revisions\/2611919"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2611916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2611915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2611915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2611915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}