‘Don’t Know’ Him: John Kennedy Does Not Say Yes When Asked If Ken Paxton ‘Has Character To Serve’ In Senate

Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy did not answer in the affirmative when NBC News’ Kristen Welker asked him Sunday if his party’s Senate nominee in neighboring Texas has the “character to serve.”

During Kennedy’s appearance on “Meet the Press,” Welker asked the lawmaker to give his take on what she observed was “one of the most hotly contested” and expensive Senate races between Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic State Rep. James Talarico. She specifically pressed Kennedy on whether he thinks Paxton — who is dogged by corruption allegations which resulted in his 2023 impeachment and acquittal as well as an acknowledged extramarital affair — possesses the requisite “character to serve as a U.S. senator.”

“That’s the decision of the people of Texas,” the senator responded. “I don’t know Ken Paxton. I don’t know Mr. Talarico.”

“You’re not confident though? You’re not confident in his character, Sen. Kennedy?” Welker continued to press.

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“As best I can tell, the race is an unpopularity contest,” Kennedy said.

While the lawmaker conceded he ultimately thinks Paxton will win because of Texas’ strong Republican lean, he noted that the race is “going to be very, very close.”

A late September New York Times/ Siena poll showed Talarico leading Paxton 51 percent to 46 percent, despite the Lone Star State having voted for President Donald Trump by 13 percentage points in 2024. The non-partisan Cook Political Report rates the race between Paxton and Talarico as a toss-up.

Paxton unseated longtime Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn in a May primary runoff by a landslide margin. Talarico defeated firebrand Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a contentious primary.