Texas U.S. Senate candidates are picking up last-minute endorsements as Election Day nears.
Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton are set to face off in the Nov. 3 General Election, with the winner heading to Washington to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who was defeated by Paxton in a May runoff.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced Sunday, Oct. 18, that it was throwing its weight behind Paxton in the upcoming contest, bolstering his support among job creators, small business owners, and employers across the nation.
Democrat James Talarico is holding a slight lead over Republican Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate in Texas." id="91984619007">
“The choice is clear in Texas," said Neil Bradley, executive vice president
and chief policy officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a news release. "Attorney General Ken Paxton has been a defender of free enterprise and the pro-growth policies that empower American businesses to thrive. He has pushed back against federal overreach, helped preserve a low-tax environment, and defended the energy sector from burdensome mandates. Paxton understands that true economic prosperity relies on a fair and predictable justice system. We look forward to working together on meaningful legal reform that shields job creators from lawsuit abuse and red tape."
The Chamber endorsement comes as Paxton continues to find himself trailing Talarico in the waning days of the campaign.
“Texas is the best state in the nation to start a business, create jobs, and build a future, and that didn’t happen by accident,” Paxton said in the release. “As your next United States Senator, I will fight to cut taxes, roll back job-killing regulations, and make sure Washington bureaucrats stop standing in the way of the men and women who drive our economy. I look forward to working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the millions of businesses it represents to keep Texas the economic engine of America.”
Talarico nabs another newspaper nod
On the same day the U.S. Chamber announced its support for Paxton, the Dallas Morning News announced it was endorsing Talarico to become the state's first Democratic U.S. Senator in 30 years.
“Texans have a clear choice in the race for U.S. Senate between a man who is unfit for office based on a long history of corruption and a man of integrity who is well prepared for higher office and who has demonstrated a degree of political independence uncommon in our era of blind partisanship," the newspaper's editorial board wrote.
The editorial board noted that it had previously supported Cornyn "in every race he ran for Senate," but is now switching sides to back Talarico.
“Talarico is willing and able to talk to people of every political stripe," the editorial board wrote. "He has no fear of taking tough questions from Fox News or engaging with devoted MAGA voters. He meets people where they are. Paxton can’t even perform well in his own echo chamber. He stumbles in softball interviews, the only kind he’ll engage.”
“Agree or disagree with Talarico, all the evidence is that he’s an honest and independent man," the endorsement continued. "Even if there are times when we disagree with him, don’t Texans deserve an honest and independent man as senator?”
The endorsement marks Talarico's fourth from a major Texas newspaper, following the Houston Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman and San Antonio Express-News.
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 land big endorsements in close Texas US Senate race
