Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stopped in Corpus Christi on Sept. 2 as he campaigns for a spot in the U.S. Senate.
Paxton was met by local supporters at an event at Brewster Street Ice House, where he highlighted his record as state attorney general and his economic agenda.
Paxton is running against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for the seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn, whom Paxton defeated in the Republican primary.
In Corpus Christi, Paxton called for a $25,000 tax deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses, with additional $25,000 for each dependent; a $50,000 deduction for home down payments; and a $5,000 deduction for health expenses like gym memberships, youth sports and GLP-1 weight-loss medications; as well as for doubling
the child tax credit.
"I'm going to fight so that every Texan can buy a home, raise a family and live a healthy life without struggling to make ends meet," Paxton said.
Talarico's campaign has also focused on economics, including raising the minimum wage and expanding overtime pay, canceling medical debt, replacing tax breaks for the top 1% of earners, supporting universal childcare and paid family leave, expanding the child tax credit and providing assistance for first-time homebuyers, among other priorities.
Talarico recently stopped in Corpus Christi on Aug. 23. He was also in Corpus Christi during his primary campaign in January.
Talarico has outpaced Paxton in fundraising so far, according to reporting from the Texas Tribune.
Among the differences between himself and Talarico that Paxton pointed to were their stances on faith and gender.
Paxton, preaching conservative Christian values, claimed that the upcoming election is "about safeguarding our faith and our way of life." He said there are only two genders and touted a settlement his office had secured with Texas Children's Hospital creating a detransition clinic.
Talarico has also been vocal about his Christian faith, which has inspired progressive values in Talarico instead, including a support for LGBTQ+ rights.
Paxton was preceded on stage by speakers state Rep. Todd Hunter, U.S. House of Representatives candidate Eric Flores, state Sen. Adam Hinojosa and state Rep. Cole Hefner, as well as Nueces County Republican Party Chairman Carmen Calderone.
Calderone, encouraging attendees at the Paxton event in Corpus Christi to vote this fall, said that though some have considered Nueces County a battleground county, "we have a red wall for their so-called blue wave."
During the May 3 primary election, more than 24,000 votes were cast in Nueces County in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, while just over 22,000 were cast in the Republic primary for U.S. Senate. During the May 26 Republican primary run-off, just short of 12,000 votes were cast for either Cornyn or Paxton.
Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Senate candidate Ken Paxton touts economic agenda in Corpus Christi
