Talarico, Paxton Launch Dueling Texas Senate Ads as $90 Million Primary Fight Looms Over Race
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 2
Talarico, Paxton Launch Dueling Texas Senate Ads as $90 Million Primary Fight Looms Over Race
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 2
Summary
Friday ads from both Texas Senate candidates sharpened a race already dominated by personal attacks, with James Talarico rebutting claims about his record and Ken Paxton leaning on a family-values appeal.
Talarico used a direct-to-camera spot to deny accusations that he is tied to the Chinese Communist Party or supports gender-transition surgeries for minors, and accused Paxton of using AI-generated videos to spread lies.
Paxton’s new ad did not answer the corruption and personal scandals detailed in legal filings; instead, his daughter Mattie Hayworth praised him as a fighter for families and a role model for his grandchildren.
The exchange reflects how potent culture-war attacks remain in Texas after Republicans said similar messaging helped them sweep 2024 races, while Democrats now concede they erred by largely ignoring those charges.
Paxton’s ad also appears to reuse footage from the primary, when he faced a more than $90 million effort backing incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, underscoring how bruising the Senate contest has already become.