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Senate Republicans Launch Major Financial Offensive to Support Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Race

Senate Republicans Launch Major Financial Offensive to Support Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Race

Top Senate Republicans are injecting millions of dollars into Texas to secure the Senate seat for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the upcoming midterm elections. The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC associated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is establishing the Texas PAC, which will deploy a significant war chest to support Paxton. This move comes as Paxton faces a tight race against Texas State Representative James Talarico, whom Republicans characterize as too progressive for Texas. Senator Thune emphasized the Republican unity in preventing Talarico from entering the U.S. Senate. The new PAC is set to launch an initial eight-figure ad buy, with advertisements running continuously through Election Day. These ads will aim to portray Paxton positively and highlight the differences between the candidates. This financial backing follows a $10 million ad spending commitment from MAGA, Inc., a super PAC linked to President Trump, also in support of Paxton. The influx of funds is crucial...
USA TodayUSA Today
Watch: Kimmel-Talarico interview goes to YouTube after ABC pulls i

Watch: Kimmel-Talarico interview goes to YouTube after ABC pulls i

James Talarico’s Jimmy Kimmel interview is now on YouTube after it was pulled from ABC amid concerns about FCC rules. Watch the full interview here.
USA TodayUSA Today
Talarico calls on Paxton to sue Trump's DOJ over Epstein files

Talarico calls on Paxton to sue Trump's DOJ over Epstein files

Standing with two Epstein survivors in Dallas, Talarico demanded his Senate rival Paxton use his AG powers to sue the DOJ over its handling of the files.
AP NewsAP News
Trump's teasing is the price Paxton had to pay to use Republican midterm convention to raise money

Trump's teasing is the price Paxton had to pay to use Republican midterm convention to raise money

President Donald Trump repeatedly mocked Ken Paxton at the Republicans’ midterm convention
El Paso TimesEl Paso Times
Trump critiques Ken Paxton's looks, style while endorsing Senate bid

Trump critiques Ken Paxton's looks, style while endorsing Senate bid

President Donald Trump has repeatedly mocked Ken Paxton's appearance and speaking style, though he remains one of the Senate candidate's top allies.
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James Talarico Reverses Stance on Transgender Athletes in Girls' Sports, Citing Safety and Fairness

James Talarico Reverses Stance on Transgender Athletes in Girls' Sports, Citing Safety and Fairness

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico has publicly stated his opposition to transgender student-athletes competing in girls' sports if it compromises safety or fairness. This declaration, made on Fox News, marks a significant shift from his previous legislative record as a Texas House representative, where he voted against restrictions on trans athletes. Talarico, a former public school teacher, emphasized his concern for student-athletes and the need for fair competition. He clarified that his past votes against GOP restrictions were due to their 'overly broad' nature and his support for amendments that would have localized decision-making or narrowed the scope of such prohibitions. This reversal comes as Republicans, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, have criticized Talarico's prior positions on LGBTQ+ rights and trans sports, using them in campaign ads to portray him as too progressive for Texas. Talarico also walked back a previous statement from April 2021 where he suggested there were 's...
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Texas Democratic Congressman Greg Casar Discusses Senate Race and AI Ban Bill

Texas Democratic Congressman Greg Casar Discusses Senate Race and AI Ban Bill

Representative Greg Casar, a Democratic congressman from Texas and chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, recently appeared on 'Meet the Press NOW'. During his appearance, Rep. Casar addressed the ongoing political contest for the Texas Senate seat between James Talarico and Ken Paxton. He also highlighted his legislative efforts to introduce a bill aimed at banning artificial superintelligence. The discussion touched upon the broader political landscape, with Rep. Casar asserting that Republicans are aware of an impending 'blue wave' in the upcoming elections. This statement reflects the current political climate and the strategic positioning of parties in anticipation of future electoral outcomes. The interview provided a platform for Rep. Casar to articulate his views on key state-level political battles and his national legislative priorities concerning emerging technologies.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Uses AI-Generated Attack Ad Against James Talarico in Senate Race

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Uses AI-Generated Attack Ad Against James Talarico in Senate Race

Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has released an AI-generated attack ad targeting Democratic State Representative James Talarico in the Texas Senate contest. The 30-second ad, posted on Paxton's official X account, features an AI-generated likeness of Talarico reading from a fictional 'King James Talarico Bible.' The synthetic character recites a passage that combines separate religious remarks Talarico previously made about Christianity, gender, and Jesus, creating the appearance of a continuous performance that did not actually occur. The ad's caption claims Talarico is 'weaponizing faith to sell a radical agenda' and 'brags about hating Christianity.' This use of generative AI in political advertising has sparked debate, with some commentators, like journalist Mehdi Hasan, calling for such ads to be illegal.
USA TodayUSA Today
Paxton whistleblower backs Talarico in tight Texas Senate race

Paxton whistleblower backs Talarico in tight Texas Senate race

A former top Paxton aide turned whistleblower is now campaigning for his old boss's rival. Here's what we know.
Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Watch Jimmy Kimmel’s Interview With Senate Candidate James Talarico

Watch Jimmy Kimmel’s Interview With Senate Candidate James Talarico

The conversation didn't air on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live after threats from the FCC
Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Jimmy Kimmel Says James Talarico Interview Won’t Air on TV After Trump’s FCC Threats

Jimmy Kimmel Says James Talarico Interview Won’t Air on TV After Trump’s FCC Threats

The late night host announced that his interview with the Texas Senate candidate will only air on YouTube