Rep. James Talarico posted a video calling on Attorney General Ken Paxton to debate on Fox News with Bret Baier as moderator as early voting nears. The two are the leading nominees in the U.S. Senate race to replace Sen. John Cornyn, and polls show a tight contest with Talarico holding a modest lead. Paxton's campaign has been weighed down by multiple legal and ethical controversies dating back to 2015. Talarico says he has accepted four local TV debates and is pressing for a televised, head-to-head forum so Texans can compare the candidates directly.
Talarico Publicly Challenges Ken Paxton to Fox News Debate as Texas Race Tightens
James Talarico/X
Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) posted a video of himself calling Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) to press for a head-to-head debate on Fox News as early voting approaches.
Both men are their parties' leading nominees in the closely watched U.S. Senate contest to replace Sen. John Cornyn (R). Although no Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994, recent polls show the race unusually competitive, with Talarico holding a narrow edge in many surveys.
Background And Controversy
Paxton carries a series of longstanding legal and ethical controversies that have shadowed his candidacy: a 2015 state securities-fraud indictment, federal civil fraud allegations from 2016, accusations by former staffers that he accepted improper benefits, an impeachment by the Texas House, and public accusations of personal misconduct. His office also faced criticism after negotiating a plea deal in a child sexual-abuse case in which the defendant ultimately served 29 days in jail.
Talarico's Challenge
Although Paxton has said he will debate, his campaign has been slow to finalize a public matchup. On Friday, Talarico uploaded a short video in which he dialed Paxton and left an invitation to debate on Fox News, suggesting veteran anchor Bret Baier as moderator.
"Hey Ken, it's James," Talarico says in the clip after reaching a voicemail prompt. "I'm calling to invite you to a debate on Fox News. Texans start voting in less than a month and they deserve to hear from both of us before they do. I've accepted four local TV debates, but we haven't heard from you and we're running out of time. So, if Fox News is where you'll be most comfortable, I'll be there because I think it's that important. Bret Baier can moderate. We can both take questions. And Texans can hear from us directly. So, give me a call back and I look forward to hearing from you."
Campaign Context
Republicans have sought to portray Talarico as an unconventional candidate. In May, former President Donald Trump criticized Talarico for earlier comments in which the candidate described views on gender and religion, calling him "a weird, a weird candidate" and referencing the candidate's remarks about multiple sexes. That line of attack has become part of the GOP messaging in the race.
With early voting beginning in under a month, Talarico's public challenge underscores the narrowing window for voters to see both contenders face off and for campaigns to create defining moments before ballots are cast.
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