{"id":2652434,"date":"2026-08-31T15:43:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/small-business-association-endorses-paxton-in-texas-senate-race\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T15:53:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:53:52","slug":"small-business-association-endorses-paxton-in-texas-senate-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/small-business-association-endorses-paxton-in-texas-senate-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Small business association endorses Paxton in Texas Senate race"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/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%2Fsmall-business-association-endorses-paxton-in-texas-senate-race%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=2652434&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>The National Federation of Autonomous Business (NFIB), a prominent advocacy group for small adn independent businesses, has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) for U.S. Senate.NFIB praised Paxton\u2019s history of promoting pro-business policies and his support for small businesses in Texas, emphasizing his personal experience as a small business owner. Paxton expressed gratitude for the endorsement, asserting his dedication to defending small businesses and free enterprise, contrasting himself with his Democratic opponent, State Rep. James Talarico, who has supported legislation that could harm small businesses, such as increasing minimum wages and imposing new regulations. Talarico, campaigning on expanding overtime and raising the federal minimum wage, has also opposed COVID-19 shutdowns and supported income tax proposals, drawing criticism from Paxton. The endorsement indicates a shift of small business support toward Paxton in the Texas Senate race as the election approaches.  <\/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\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE \u2014<\/strong> The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation\u2019s leading advocacy organization for small and independent businesses, has endorsed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Texas\/\">Texas<\/a> Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Ken-Paxton\/\">Ken Paxton<\/a> (R) for U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGeneral Paxton has a long history of working with NFIB to advance pro-business policies for one of the most pro-business states in the country,\u201d NFIB political director Louis Bertolotti told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/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\/campaigns\/congressional\/4706586\/abdul-el-sayed-hire-jewish-community-liaison-senate-michigan\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>El Sayed to hire Jewish community liaison as Senate campaign olive branch<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4706221\/national-federation-independent-business-endorse-ken-paxton-texas-senate-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Small business association endorses Ken Paxton as James Talarico pushes for employer regulations<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4706241\/pete-buttigieg-stumps-new-mexico-democrats-deb-haaland-gabe-vasquez\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Buttigieg to stump for New Mexico Democrats<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bertolotti cited Paxton\u2019s time in the state legislature and his record of demonstrating strong support for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/small-businesses\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3826\">small businesses<\/a> across Texas. \u201cHe is a small business owner himself who has promised to defend free enterprise in Washington,\u201d Bertolotti added. \u201cOn behalf of the businesses we represent across the Lone Star State, NFIB is pleased to endorse Ken Paxton for U.S. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am incredibly grateful to receive the endorsement of NFIB,\u201d Paxton said in a statement shared with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cAs a former small business owner myself, I understand the daily struggle business owners face as they work to carve out their own version of the American Dream.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton said he is \u201cthe only candidate in this race who has continually defended small businesses, and NFIB\u2019s support is a testament to that fact.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His opponent, Democratic state Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17710\">James Talarico<\/a>, has been a vocal proponent of regulations that industry watchdogs have warned would harm Texas\u2019s small businesses.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\">Texas state Rep. and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico attends a rally in Houston, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo\/Joel Angel Juarez)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26148060590012.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico attends a rally in Houston, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Joel Angel Juarez\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talarico, while serving in the Texas House, wrote bills to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jamestalarico\/status\/1641873230234279940\">repeal<\/a> right-to-work laws, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/tlodocs\/89R\/billtext\/html\/HB05297I.htm\">increase<\/a> the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/opposition-grows-over-proposal-to-eliminate-tipped-wages-in-illinois\/\" title=\"Controversy mounts over plan to abolish tipped wages in Illinois\">state-mandated minimum wage<\/a>, and impose one-size-fits-all <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/tlodocs\/89R\/billtext\/html\/HB05326I.htm\">paid leave requirements<\/a> that would dictate how small employers run their benefits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a state lawmaker, Talarico also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.house.texas.gov\/HJRNL\/88R\/HTML\/88RDAY69FINAL.HTM\">voted against<\/a> a bill that would have prohibited local governments from shutting down businesses for failing to comply with COVID-19 mandates, voted <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.house.texas.gov\/hjrnl\/86r\/pdf\/86RDAY62FINAL.PDF\">in favor<\/a> of allowing Texas to institute an income tax, and has received <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/index.texastaxpayers.com\/legislators\/james-talarico\/2025-index?record-type=Vote\">an \u201cF\u201d rating<\/a> from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility in every legislative session he served.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talarico is currently <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/jamestalarico.com\/issue\/labor-business\/\">campaigning<\/a> on expanding overtime eligibility and raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, though he would award tax credits and subsidies to help small businesses struggling to accommodate the wage hike. Such <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3831205\/california-fast-food-wage-law-backfires\/\">mandatory minimum-wage increases<\/a> in other jurisdictions, bringing with them increased labor costs, have led small businesses to cut employee hours or eliminate jobs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy opponent is a radical <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/socialism\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"510\">socialist<\/a> who would be devastating for those who courageously bet on themselves and dare to take the leap of opening their own small business,\u201d Paxton told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4670693\/paxton-trumpets-affordability-message-new-tax-proposal-senate-race-stalemate\/\"><strong>PAXTON TRUMPETS AFFORDABILITY MESSAGE WITH NEW TAX PROPOSAL AS SENATE RACE HITS STALEMATE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NFIB\u2019s endorsement announcement on Monday follows the small business association\u2019s support of Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"965\">John Cornyn <\/a>(R-TX) in the Republican primary. After the incumbent senator lost the party\u2019s nomination to Paxton, the NFIB\u2019s endorsement of the attorney general in his Senate bid indicates that small business owners are coalescing behind the GOP nominee ahead of the general election in November.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talarico\u2019s campaign was contacted for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NFIB endorses Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate in Texas<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2652435,"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-qm6sq3bqe-1779895209153-e1779901504612.jpg?1788186980&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[21510,18466,5894,51972,44928],"class_list":["post-2652434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-endorsements","tag-paxton","tag-politics","tag-small-business-2","tag-texas-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-qm6sq3bqe-1779895209153-e1779901504612.jpg?1788186980&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652434","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\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2652434"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2652443,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652434\/revisions\/2652443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2652435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2652434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2652434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2652434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}