Democratic state representative James Talarico takes on Republican incumbent Ken Paxton in Texas Senate battle
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James Talarico, a Texas state representative, is trying to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas since 1988, running against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a race shaped by grassroots energy, big-money conservative attacks, and growing frustration with Texas’s entrenched power structure.
James Talarico, a 37-year-old former teacher and state representative, is running for the U.S. Senate seat from Texas, aiming to break a Democratic drought that has lasted since 1988. The race pits him against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, a figure mired in multiple legal and ethical controversies while still benefiting from the support of wealthy backers and the broader machinery of Republican power.
Polls released in the weeks before the election show Talarico holding a narrow lead. He has emphasized a platform that blends economic populism, progressive policies and a Christian-based message, presenting himself as a people-first alternative to the Republican candidate and the donor-driven politics that have long dominated the state.
"They are terrified because they see what we see: we are about to win this election," Talarico told a crowd at the University of Texas at Austin, referring to Republican donors.
Talarico’s campaign raised $64 million in the third quarter, largely from small-donor contributions that underscore the energy of ordinary voters rather than elite interests. His background includes two years teaching sixth-grade language arts in a high-poverty San Antonio school, work with an education nonprofit, and service in the state house where he focused on public-school finance, prescription-drug pricing and property-tax relief.
During his legislative tenure, Talarico opposed Republican initiatives on voting restrictions, school vouchers and LGBTQ+ rights, and he has been described by colleagues as a persuasive orator. He also earned a master’s degree in theological studies from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, which he says informs his approach to public policy and his insistence that government should serve the many, not the powerful few.
Ken Paxton, who was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 but later acquitted by the Senate, continues to face legal challenges and personal scandals that have not stopped Republican operatives from rallying around him. The campaign has seen significant spending from Republican Super PACs, including a $158 million contribution from tech billionaire Elon Musk that was directed to anti-Talarico advertising focused on cultural-war distractions rather than the real issues Texans face.
Political analysts note that the race could signal a shift in Texas politics if Talarico wins, potentially influencing the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and challenging the state’s long-standing Republican dominance.