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Paxton-Talarico Texas Senate race intensifies

Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate campaign drew scrutiny as the race against Talarico intensified and a prominent supporter reported being escorted from a rally.

16 stories655 sourcesUpdated Nov 8, 2026

In this storyline:Ken Paxton James Talarico Donald John Trump Marco Rubio Sherrod Brown Adam Hamilton Greg Abbott Nathan M. Johnson

Paxton-Talarico Texas Senate race intensifies — Photo: Alice Linahan Voices Empower / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Coverage momentum

total articles across this storyline · last 72h

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Nov 8, 4 AMdots mark key developments · hover for any hourNov 9, 12 PM

Key developments

Oct 21, 2026
The Paxton-Talarico contest in Texas grew more intense ahead of the Senate race.
3 sources on this →
Oct 20, 2026
A 200K-follower MAGA influencer said she was removed from Ken Paxton’s San Antonio campaign rally without explanation.
33 sources on this →
Nov 4, 2026
Trump ally Paxton loses to Democratic challenger in Texas primary.
4 sources on this →
Nov 4, 2026
Democrat Nathan Johnson elected Texas attorney general to succeed Paxton.
8 sources on this →

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Stories in this storyline

Politics

Faith Leaders and Muslim Candidates Gain in Midterms

The Democratic midterm victories reflected shifts among religious voters, including a swing toward Democrats among Catholics and a smaller share of the electorate identifying as white evangelicals, while Jewish voters moved more toward Republicans. Progressive Christian candidates and Muslim candidates also won prominent races, giving Democrats examples of faith-based campaigning and expanding religious representation, though it remains unclear whether the Christian candidates’ wins signal a broader movement.

26 sources

Politics

Texas Sen.-elect Talarico Makes Surprise SNL Cold Open Appearance

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Talarico Leads Democratic Texas Sweep

Texas’ closely contested Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton could determine control of the Senate, with Democrats hoping suburban growth and voter frustration over costs and the Iran war will help break the state’s decades-long Republican hold. Paxton’s scandals and signs of weak GOP turnout have heightened Republican concerns, while both campaigns are working to mobilize voters in a race with potentially significant national consequences.

277 sources

Politics

Democrat Nathan Johnson elected Texas attorney general to succeed Paxton

Texas voters are choosing a new attorney general among Republican Mayes Middleton, Democrat Nathan Johnson and Libertarian Tom Oxford, with the seat open after Ken Paxton left to run for the U.S. Senate; results were beginning to come in, with no winner declared in the reports. Colorado’s attorney general race between Democrat Jena Griswold and Republican Michael Allen centers in part on whether the state will continue lawsuits against the Trump administration.

8 sources

Politics

Paxton reportedly cancels three Texas campaign stops

Ken Paxton canceled several late Texas Senate campaign appearances, including stops in Tyler and El Paso, with his campaign citing scheduling changes and logistics and one Tyler event moved aside for an appearance with Vice President J.D. Vance. Paxton later added a new Tyler stop for Sunday as he continued his final campaign push.

38 sources

Trump ally Paxton loses to Democratic challenger in Texas primary

4 sources

Politics

Trump Mocks Talarico in Texas Senate Campaign

President Donald Trump used rallies for Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton to attack Democrat James Talarico over transgender rights, claiming Talarico believes Jesus would support gender-transition procedures. Talarico’s cited remark was that Jesus would bless trans children who were bullied; his stance on transgender issues has become a prominent line of attack in the closely contested race.

34 sources

Politics

Trump’s Texas Swing Spotlights Tight Senate Race

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico rallied supporters in El Paso and Laredo ahead of Election Day, pitching a broader vision for Texas and criticizing Republican opponent Ken Paxton over affordability and campaign support; he also spoke out against data centers. A poll cited in one report showed Talarico narrowly leading Paxton as both candidates campaigned in the border region.

118 sources

Politics

Abbott, Paxton campaign across Wichita Falls, Abilene, Sanger

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton campaigned across the state, urging supporters to vote and promoting affordability-focused plans while attacking their Democratic opponents. Abbott emphasized property-tax cuts, the economy, border security and law enforcement, while Paxton highlighted proposed tax deductions and child-tax-credit changes at rallies in Sanger and Wichita Falls.

26 sources

Politics

Suspected Russia-Linked AI Videos Target Senate Candidates

Researchers linked AI videos using real Americans' identities to target Senate candidates Sherrod Brown and James Talarico to Russian network Storm-1516.

8 sources

Business

Trump, Rubio plan visit to Venezuelan oil tanker

Trump and Rubio plan to visit a Texas tanker with 1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil; Trump called it a "boatload" gift and said prices will drop sharply.

13 sources

Politics

Trump Plans Waco Rally for Paxton Senate Bid

President Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Waco on Oct. 27 to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign. The venue has not been announced; organizers expect the event to begin at 4:30 p.m., with Trump speaking at 6 p.m.

18 sources

Politics

Talarico Holds Narrow Lead in Texas Senate Race

Texas Senate rivals Ken Paxton and James Talarico are trading challenges over a debate: Paxton says he is willing under the right conditions but objects to CNN moderating, while Talarico has proposed Fox News or TMZ. Their broader campaign contrast includes Talarico’s opposition to school vouchers and emphasis on economic fairness, against Paxton’s defense of vouchers and attacks on Talarico as a threat to Texas’s economy and conservative values.

18 sources

Politics

200K-Follower MAGA Influencer Says Paxton Campaign Removed Her

Thelma Louise, a Black pro-Trump TikTok creator, says she was escorted from Ken Paxton’s San Antonio Senate campaign rally after being told the campaign manager wanted her to leave; she says she was given no explanation and had done nothing wrong. Paxton’s campaign has not publicly explained her removal.

33 sources

Politics

The Chicks Bring Talarico Onstage at San Antonio Concert

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico joined The Chicks onstage at a San Antonio concert, praising the band’s Texas roots and willingness to speak out. The appearance, part of his campaign outreach ahead of the midterms, echoed the group’s history of backlash after criticizing President George W. Bush over the Iraq War.

8 sources

More Lawfare on the Way

3 sources