Texas state Representative James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for Senate, said Tuesday that some former Trump supporters are quietly shifting their allegiance to his campaign, whispering their backing at rallies as if they were in a witness protection program.
In an interview on MSNBC, Talarico argued that President Trump has failed to deliver on his 2024 promises, citing the administration's slow release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Trump held a cabinet meeting as the Iran deal stalled and Paxton ousted Cornyn in Texas, but Talarico says voters are noticing the gap between rhetoric and results.
“A lot of the president’s supporters in Texas are feeling disillusioned with this extremism and this corruption embodied by politicians like Ken Paxton,” Talarico said. “We have a real opportunity to build a big coalition of Democrats, independents, and Republicans who are fed up.”
Paxton’s Path to the General Election
Talarico will face Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in November, after Paxton—boosted by a last-minute Trump endorsement—defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff. The contest sets up a bitter and expensive general election, with Democrats cautiously optimistic in a state that hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since 1988.
Paxton attacked Talarico in his victory speech, calling him a threat to Texas and the nation. Talarico dismissed the insults, saying name-calling doesn’t lower grocery bills or housing costs. “This politics of trolling and owning has a record-low approval rating,” he said. “What you’ll see is a hunger for servant leaders who will deliver for working Texans.”
The Cook Political Report shifted the race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” after Paxton’s win, noting his ethical vulnerabilities. Cook’s Jessica Taylor wrote that Paxton faces allegations of bribery and misuse of office, as well as a divorce on “biblical grounds.” However, she added that undecided voters may still hesitate to hand the Senate to Democrats.
Trump hailed Paxton’s win as a midterm bellwether, but Talarico sees a path to victory by focusing on kitchen-table issues and contrasting his record with Paxton’s scandals. The race is expected to test whether Democrats can peel off enough disaffected Republicans in a deep-red state.
