The U.S. Senate battle in Texas is one of the most watched in the United States.
The matchup between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton represents a key showdown for Texas voters. The seat is open after Paxton defeated sitting Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in a primary runoff election earlier this year.
Democrats are making an aggressive midterm pitch to take over the U.S. Senate — a win from Talarico would be an immense victory and the first time in decades that Texans have sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate.
Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report moved the race from "Lean Republican" to "Toss Up," describing it as "an increasingly competitive opportunity for Democrats."
But a reliably red voting bloc in Texas continues to
be a roadblock for Talarico, a state legislator, as he looks to replace Cornyn. Despite his multitudinous scandals, many Republicans are still likely to cast a ballot for Paxton rather than vote blue.
While Talarico has made inroads with disenfranchised conservative voters who cannot bring themselves to vote for Paxton, President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott continue to rally Republican voters to Paxton's side.
Meanwhile, polls continue to show Talarico gaining ground and even holding a lead in the weeks before the 2026 General Election.
Here's a look at the candidates leading up to the Nov. 3 showdown.
Who is Ken Paxton?
Paxton, now a longtime Republican powerhouse in Texas, got his start in politics as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 2003 until 2013 before moving to the Texas Senate.
In 2015, Paxton took the reins of the Texas Attorney General's Office and built a reputation as one of the nation's most aggressive conservative legal activists, frequently challenging Democratic administrations in court and filing dozens of lawsuits against the administrations of former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
He first became a staunch ally of President Trump and the MAGA agenda during the 2020 presidential campaign — despite Trump's recorded loss in the election, Paxton filed a failed lawsuit to have the election overturned, etching his name into the annals of election outcome deniers.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Paxton's record in public service has been his numerous scandals, starting in 2015 when he was indicted on state securities fraud charges dating back to before his time in office.
He later faced an FBI investigation after former aides accused him of abusing his office to benefit Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, ultimately leading to his impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023. The Texas Senate eventually acquitted him and he was allowed to return to office.
Paxton advanced to the showdown with Talarico after forcing Cornyn into a May runoff, which Paxton won by a wide margin after picking up a last-minute endorsement from Trump.
Paxton's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Paxton's key platforms/initiatives
- Support Trump's agenda
- Enhance border security and deportations
- Expand domestic energy production
Who is James Talarico?
Talarico, who was largely unknown before launching his U.S. Senate campaign, has risen to become a dynamo among Texas Democrats, raking in record-breaking fundraising hauls and likely giving the party its best chance ever of sending one of its own to the U.S. Senate.
Before entering politics, Talarico worked as a public-school teacher in San Antonio, an experience he has often cited as the inspiration for his eventual run for office and his faith-based focus on service to others.
Talarico first joined the Texas House of Representatives in 2018, representing District 52. But once that district was gerrymandered into extinction, Talarico was elected to represent District 50 in the Texas House.
His Christian faith has played a central role in his public identity as he has sought to bridge the gap between faith and progressive politics, a fine thread to weave when Republicans have long sought to cast their party as the torchbearer of Christianity.
While serving in the Texas House, Talarico earned a master's degree in theological studies and is currently working toward a Master of Divinity, the typical path to ordination as a minister.
After toppling U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, in the March Democratic primary, Talarico secured his place on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Talarico's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Talarico's key platforms/initiatives
- Lower costs for working families
- Eliminate impact of wealthy donors in politics
- Protect Social Security and Medicare
What to expect in Texas US Senate race
Talarico and Paxton have been bombarding the airwaves with political advertisements and there's no indication that either candidate plans to slow down with just over 45 days to go before the election.
In recent weeks, Paxton has used ads to attack Talarico's faith and tout his own economic agenda. Talarico has focused more on introducing himself to Texans and promoting his populist agenda.
Paxton, whose campaign has done little to get out the vote so far, has at least two stops planned on his sporadic "Protecting the Texas Promise Tour" in Beaumont and Longview.
While Talarico has no official announcements regarding campaign stops, his campaign is partnering with Democratic Party organizations across the state for block-walking events, phone banks and other activities over the coming weeks aimed at getting Democrats to the polls in November.
Political strategists predict this race will come down to a fierce battle between Paxton's culture wars and Talarico's economic message, aimed at Texans' struggles to get health insurance, buy groceries, and achieve the American dream.
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: Paxton, Talarico Texas US Senate contest tightens in race's final weeks
