Leaked audio captures Paxton criticizing own party as Texas Senate race tightens

Talarico fields voter questions at CNN town hall as polls show narrow lead

Leaked audio recordings from a closed-door meeting captured Republican Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton criticizing his own party and Washington campaign leaders, with most recent polls showing Democratic nominee James Talarico holding a narrow lead in a competitive race to become Texas’s next US senator.

Paxton’s entry into the race carried a history of scandals. The Texas state legislature impeached him in 2023 on allegations including bribery and abuse of public trust, though he was later acquitted. In 2025, his wife of almost four decades, Angela Paxton, filed for divorce on “biblical grounds,” citing adultery. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton to run against Talarico, passing up incumbent Republican John Cornyn.

Though Democrats have not won a Senate seat in the state since the late 1980s, Talarico’s campaign is betting his crossover appeal can break that drought. The most recent polls have shifted the race into competitive territory, with Talarico holding a narrow lead despite the long history of Republican dominance.

Talarico sat face to face with several undecided voters Wednesday evening at a CNN town hall, fielding questions on Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, abortion, foreign aid, and his Christian faith. CNN host Erin Burnett noted at the start of the town hall that Paxton had declined an invitation to appear, leaving the Democratic candidate alone on the televised stage.

One voter, a devout small business owner, questioned the authenticity of Talarico’s faith by referencing a past remark in which the candidate described God as nonbinary. “When I said that, I was being provocative and I want to admit that and come clean about that,” Talarico responded. “What I was saying is actually not controversial theologically: the idea that we can’t define God using human categories. Not only did I say that, but the late Charlie Kirk said that – the late Pope Benedict said that.” Talarico added that he was receptive to feedback from Christians.

Another voter, Jodi Hunt, identified as a self-described single-issue voter, probed Talarico’s pro-choice stance, asking: “How would you convince me as a Catholic voter that I can trust you would protect the most innocent among us?” Talarico described the Bible as silent on abortion, to which Hunt countered quoting “Thou shalt not kill.” “We may have different, moral conclusions when it comes to this particular ethical question, but we actually have the same public policy goal,” Talarico said, framing abortion as a public health issue solvable through reductions in unplanned pregnancies.

Throughout the night, Talarico cast himself as a moderate willing to put the needs of Texans over party allegiances, railing against the ultra-wealthy and framing them as a common enemy. The approach reflects a broader strategy aimed at persuading independents and Republicans fatigued by President Donald Trump’s second term or put off by Paxton’s many scandals.

Talarico returned to the campaign trail last week after an absence of more than a week that his campaign attributed to a bad case of the flu. During the absence, conservative influencers falsely accused him of receiving medical treatment at a mental health facility in Ohio. Paxton and Trump further propelled the rumor, seeking to fuel skepticism about Talarico’s health and fitness for office. The Democratic candidate denied the false allegations after returning to the trail, noting he had never been to Ohio.

Talarico used the town hall to denounce the episode. “False claims got millions of views online and this is an example of what I call the ‘rage economy,’” he told the audience. “Billionaires who own these platforms get rich. We all get angry and nobody’s life gets any better. Conspiracy theories don’t put food on the table, put gas in the tank, or improve our communities.”