Talarico targets Paxton's scandals in Texas Senate race, pivoting from his sunny primary message

[Dulcinea]

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas Democrat James Talarico launched his general election campaign for the U.S. Senate Wednesday by framing his Republican opponent, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, as part of a corrupt political establishment that uses power to serve itself rather than the people.

Talarico has given Democrats their best chance in years of winning a Senate race in Texas and has boosted their still-uphill chances of retaking the majority in the U.S. Senate in November. Talarico, a former middle school teacher and a state lawmaker from Austin, laid out a clear strategy for the months ahead: Litigating Paxton’s scandals to a weary electorate.

“Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America,” Talarico told a crowd of about 1,000 supporters who packed a dance club in downtown Houston. “He has failed the character test. He has put his own interests above the laws of Texas. Those are not my words, those are the words of Ken Paxton’s fellow Republicans.”

https://apnews.com/article/texas-senate-talarico-paxton-political-corruption-21215a474f8bc740467d42ca60f403a0

[RandySF]

1. These scandals should rightfully sink any politician.

But Paxton seems immune.

[Martin68]

2. It really seems as if corruption scandal charges are a badge of honor in the eyes of MAGAts. And their go-to excuse is

always "both sides do it," so they'd rather have their scumbag in office than a Democrat.

[Beartracks]

9. Fellow Repubs stay mum, and only Dems complain -- so then Repubs can claim Dems are being partisan.

[Attilatheblond]

5. Sadly true, Talarico might mention Paxton's legal problems but FOCUS on his own ideas on how to make life better in TX

Show 'em what ya got and how you can improve conditions in Texas and the US. Give people thing to vote FOR, not just against.

Talarico has some really good ideas. Run on those and brush the criminal known as Paxton off the page.

[TBF]

11. He's gonna have to do both - gloves are off now that the primary's over

and if you think republicans will run on "really good ideas" ... I mean, come on. Yes, he needs to address policy, and he can certainly do that (and we have his voting records from his time as a state rep), but he also needs to show Paxton he's ready for a fight.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. We will be seeing a great deal of Paxton's mug shot

[orangecrush]

4. Go high, we die

This isn't politics as usual anymore.

[Jimvanhise]

6. PAXTON KISSED TRUMP'S BUTT IN 2020

In 2020 Ken Paxton filed illegal lawsuits against states which didn't elect Donald Trump and demanded recounts and not only were they tossed because Paxton did not have the standing to file them, but Paxton was threatened with disbarment for filing the illegal lawsuits, which is exactly what brought down Rudy Giuliani. Paxton remains one of the most corrupt active politicians in America.

[Snackshack]

7. I have to question the strategic intelligence.

... of pointing out MAGA hypocrisy / criminality. We have been doing this from the roof tops for over a year now with zero results.

MAGA voted Massie out, the guy that wanted to hold ppl accountable in the EFs and voted the guy in who does not.

This is an outstandingly good data point showing that there is no moral ground maga actually stands on, it is all about control/power.


Edit: DYAC!

[TBF]

8. It has been 2 days. Give the man a chance. nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. MaddowBlog-The long list of scandals that will dog Texas' Ken Paxton from now until Election Day

“To call Paxton ethically challenged is to call Jeffrey Dahmer suffering from an eating disorder,” one GOP senator said.

The long list of scandals that will dog Texas’ Ken Paxton from now until Election Day
“To call Paxton ethically challenged is to call Jeffrey Dahmer suffering from an eating disorder,” one GOP senator
Who put this list together? The National Republican Senatorial Committee
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— AFinRenoFightsBack 🌊2026 🌊 (@callyson.bsky.social) 2026-05-27T19:16:10.521Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/the-long-list-of-scandals-that-will-dog-texas-ken-paxton-from-now-until-election-day

Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, who’ll face the state attorney general in the fall, responded to the GOP primary by describing Paxton as “the most corrupt politician in America.”

Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America. 

He embodies the broken system we’re running against.

It’s time to come together: The People vs. Ken Paxton

— James Talarico (@jamestalarico.bsky.social) 2026-05-27T01:38:20.360Z

Soon after, the Democrat’s campaign unveiled its first post-primary ad, highlighting just how many devastating scandals Paxton has been embroiled in during his tenure in statewide office.

Link to tweet

.....To help drive the point home, consider this list published last summer:

Angela Paxton’s divorce petition accuses Paxton of adultery and says the couple stopped living together in June 2024, according to new reports.

Paxton’s former chief of staff testified that he confessed to her and other staff members he was having an affair with his mistress, Laura Olson.

Impeachment articles in the Texas legislature alleged Ken Paxton used the alias “Dave P” for a fake Uber account that he used to secretly see his mistress.

Paxton was also accused of using secret emails and burner phones to try and cover his tracks.
Paxton allegedly used his pal Nate Paul, who was recently convicted of bank fraud, to help hide his affair and provide his mistress with employment in Austin so that Paxton could be closer to her.

Twenty articles of impeachment were filed against Paxton in the Texas legislature over alleged bribery, abuse of power and obstruction of justice.

Paxton was indicted on security fraud charges that were later dropped after he paid $300,000 in restitution and completed community service.

Paxton refused to disclose multiple out-of-state properties in his 2023 financial disclosure, including a $1.6 million luxury hide-away.

Who put this list together? The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which quietly removed the list from its website after Paxton defeated Cornyn. (The list above is reprinted verbatim from the NRSC’s since-deleted post.)

Kevin Kruse, a historian at Princeton University, described Paxton as “basically a walking Thomas Nast illustration of corruption,” which hardly seemed hyperbolic. We are, after all, talking about a man whose own senior staffers reported him to the FBI, alleging he illegally used his position to help a prominent donor.