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2026 Texas U.S. Senate Race

The 2026 Texas U.S. Senate contest from the party primaries and runoff through the Talarico-Paxton general-election campaign.

Texas Senate Race Turns Into a Battle Over Who Is More of a Man

Illustration accompanying article: Texas Senate Race Turns Into a Battle Over Who Is More of a Man
  • Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton is attacking Democratic challenger James Talarico's masculinity by calling him "Low-T" and "Tofu Talarico" in an effort to court Hispanic voters.
  • Talarico, a state representative, has countered Paxton's attacks with a message on masculinity centered on service and integrity, while taking digs at Paxton's character.
  • A Paxton campaign adviser said the attacks aim to connect with Hispanic voters by painting Talarico as weak, while critics say the strategy relies on stereotypes about Latino voters.
  • Talarico beat U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the March 3 Democratic primary 62% to 35% in heavily Latino counties.
 2026-06-19 · 3 MIN READ

Ex-Paxton lawyer endorses Democrat Talarico, faults Trump focus

Illustration accompanying article: Ex-Paxton lawyer endorses Democrat Talarico, faults Trump focus
  • Dan Cogdell, a Houston attorney who represented Ken Paxton for nine years and helped defend him during his 2023 impeachment trial, has endorsed Democrat James Talarico for the U.S. Senate.
  • Cogdell said he does not dislike Paxton personally and believes the Texas Senate was right to acquit Paxton, but said he has concluded that Paxton as a politician is too focused on appeasing President Donald Trump.
  • "To simply bootlick or rubber stamp Trump, that's not what we need in DC right now," Cogdell said in an interview with the Associated Press.
  • A Paxton campaign aide dismissed the endorsement, saying Cogdell is a Democrat. Tony Buzbee, the lead defense attorney in Paxton's impeachment trial, said he is supporting Paxton.
 2026-06-09 · 3 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ousts Sen. John Cornyn in GOP runoff