[REVISION HISTORY]

Texas Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico

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2026-09-14 20:35 UTC → 2026-09-28 22:38 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Texas U.S. Senate race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic State Representative James Talarico has intensified as the election approaches. Recent polling continues to suggest a highly competitive contest, often described as a dead heat. Paxton’s campaign has faced scrutiny for its use of AI-generated technology, specifically an attack ad titled ‘King James’ that utilized a synthetic version of Talarico. Talarico criticized the ad, stating that while some phrases were based on real statements, the context was altered and certain lines were “entirely fabricated.” Additionally, Paxton faces allegations regarding his financial disclosures, with reports from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune suggesting he may have violated federal ethics laws by failing to report income from several properties and omitting mortgages on Utah condos. As the race progresses, Paxton’s campaign has seen a significant surge in fundraising activity. Data indicates a sharp increase in the volume of email solicitations sent by vendors, rising from two per week in late August to 58 by mid-September. This aggressive outreach has been characterized by some observers as a sign of political pressure within the GOP. Political tensions have also surfaced regarding rhetoric within the party. Following social media posts by Republican nominee Bo French, Senator John Cornyn called on Republican officials to condemn intolerance and racism. Talarico publicly supported Cornyn’s stance, which prompted a sharp rebuttal from Paxton, who criticized Talarico’s own rhetoric. Following a Republican runoff in which Paxton defeated John Cornyn, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina criticized Donald Trump’s support for Paxton as a “colossal mistake” that could jeopardize a Republican Senate seat. Amidst this, Paxton has advocated for the expansion of data centers in Texas to maintain a competitive edge against China in artificial intelligence.

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