Talarico topped Crockett in Democratic primary
Eight years ago, during a campaign for Texas attorney general, Democrat Justin Nelson aired television ads that showed security camera footage of Ken Paxton putting an expensive pen into his pocket. Four years ago, Republican George P. Bush challenged Paxton with billboards that read “he’s a crook” placed next to Paxton’s mugshot from the time he was charged with securities fraud. Earlier this year, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said “judgment day is coming” as he tried to fend off a Republican primary challenge from Paxton. All three lost.
Now state Rep. James Talarico, who won the Democratic primary by topping U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, is trying to do what they could not as he faces Paxton in one of the country’s most closely watched U.S. Senate races.
Ash Wright, who served as a senior adviser to Bush, described the challenge of running against Paxton. “The guy’s ability to take shots and just keep moving on and stay in elected office is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my career, in 25 years of running campaigns,” Wright said.
Paxton, the Texas attorney general, has faced securities fraud charges but has maintained his political standing.