Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is ramping up his attacks ahead of the 2026 general election.
Talarico's campaign launched a new digital ad Sept. 22 taking aim at Republican Ken Paxton over reports of his all-expenses-paid trip to China, where he met with Chinese officials and raked in $40,000 from China-linked real estate developers buying land in Texas.
Talarico and Paxton are set to face off in the Nov. 3 general election, with the winner replacing U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in Washington.
The ad takes Paxton to task over his cozy relationship with Chinese developers while he claims Talarico "sold Texas out to China."
A report from the Houston Chronicle states that several Chinese real estate investors donated to Paxton's
campaign and each donor works for "companies that facilitate the exact kind of Chinese investments he has criticized." Three years earlier, Paxton traveled to China against the advice of staff who warned about Chinese Communist Party influence and surveillance concerns.
The new ad is only the latest in the heated campaign between Paxton and Talarico. Earlier in the same week, Paxton launched an ad criticizing Talarico over his comments about a prominent Texas drag queen.
Paxton has so far not responded to Talarico's attacks over his connections to China.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Talarico attacks Paxton over China ties as Texas US Senate race heats up
