Ken Paxton Loses Former Attorney's Endorsement as Texas Senate Race Heats Up

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, was publicly rebuked by his former defense lawyer Dan Cogdell. Cogdell, who represented Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial, said Paxton “has lost sight of his core mission” and praised Democratic challenger James Talarico for promoting unity. Cogdell contributed $1,000 to Talarico’s campaign in March, reversing a prior $6,500 donation to Paxton.

Talarico, who defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a primary, has been attacking Paxton and former President Donald Trump over accusations of misogyny and anti‑trans rhetoric, framing his campaign around a broader definition of “real manhood.” The contest has drawn national attention, with Trump endorsing Paxton despite the attorney’s criticism.