# Texas Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/texas-senate-race-between-ken-paxton-and-james-talarico
> Updated: 2026-09-09T13:13:49.000Z. Sources: 26. Developments: 3.

The Texas U.S. Senate race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic State Representative James Talarico has intensified as the November 3 general election approaches. Recent polling continues to suggest a highly competitive contest, often described as a dead heat.

Paxton’s campaign has come under scrutiny for its use of AI-generated technology. The campaign released an attack ad titled ‘King James,’ which utilizes a synthetic version of Talarico to recite a compilation of past comments regarding religion and gender. Talarico has criticized the advertisement, stating that while some phrases were based on real statements, the context was altered and certain lines were “entirely fabricated.”

In addition to campaign tactics, Paxton faces new allegations regarding his financial disclosures. Investigative reports from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune allege that Paxton may have violated federal ethics laws by failing to report income from seven properties valued at approximately $5.2 million and omitting mortgages on several Utah condos. These reports follow a history of scrutiny regarding his asset disclosures, including a 2023 impeachment in the Texas House.

Republican efforts to bolster Paxton include a $10 million advertising campaign by MAGA Inc. and a pledge from Donald Trump to campaign on his behalf. Meanwhile, Talarico maintains support from figures such as former Texas Ranger David Maxwell, who has previously reported Paxton to the FBI regarding allegations of office abuse for donor benefits.

## Claims

- David Maxwell endorsed Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- David Maxwell reported Ken Paxton to the FBI in 2020 regarding allegations of abusing his office for donor benefits. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Ken Paxton characterized James Talarico as a democratic socialist who supports tax increases. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- MAGA Inc. launched a $10 million campaign to support Ken Paxton. (single source)
- An August poll showed James Talarico leading Ken Paxton 42% to 39%. (single source)
- The Texas Senate race is considered a dead heat. (single source)
- Ken Paxton praised President Donald Trump for job gains among women. (single source)
- Senator John Cornyn will support the Republican ticket despite skipping the GOP midterm convention. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: Ken Paxton faces scrutiny over AI campaign ads and ethics allegations

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces criticism for using AI-generated deepfakes in campaign ads and new allegations of violating federal ethics laws regarding undisclosed property income.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ken-paxton-faces-scrutiny-over-ai-campaign-ads-and-ethics-allegations

### 2026-09-08: Texas Senate race intensifies between Ken Paxton and James Talarico

The Texas Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico has tightened into a dead heat, marked by a $10 million MAGA Inc. campaign for Paxton and endorsements for Talarico from former Paxton allies.

24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ken-paxton-faces-intense-texas-senate-race-challenges

### 2026-08-17: Ken Paxton warns Texas cities over property tax limits

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has warned 110 cities against exceeding property tax limits under SB 1851, while facing a competitive U.S. Senate race against Democrat James Talarico.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ken-paxton-warns-texas-cities-over-property-tax-limits

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Cite as: Texas Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/texas-senate-race-between-ken-paxton-and-james-talarico