Alyssa Edwards (Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson) responded after a digital ad from Ken Paxton’s campaign spotlighted her following James Talarico’s on-camera comment naming her his favorite drag queen. The Sept. 22 ad accused Edwards of inappropriate conduct around children; Edwards replied on X on Sept. 23 with an open letter defending her 30-year career as an educator, choreographer and mentor and highlighting her work with Beyond Belief Dance Company. She also noted her Christian upbringing and closed with, “Texas is big enough for all of us.”
Alyssa Edwards Pushes Back After Paxton Campaign’s ‘Meet Alyssa Edwards’ Ad: “Texas Is Big Enough For All Of Us”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 09: Alyssa Edwards attends RuPaul's Drag Race S18 Premiere Event at Aqua New York on December 09, 2025 in New York City.
Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson, 46, better known as Alyssa Edwards of RuPaul’s Drag Race, publicly responded after becoming the focal point of a new Republican digital ad in the closely watched Texas Senate contest.
On Sept. 14, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign shared a clip from RNC Research showing a man approaching Democrat James Talarico at a campaign event and asking who his favorite Texas drag queen was. Talarico replied that it was Alyssa Edwards.
Paxton’s campaign escalated the social-media exchange by releasing a digital ad on Sept. 22 titled "Meet Alyssa Edwards." The ad says it highlights what the campaign describes as Edwards’ “history of engaging in inappropriate behavior in front of children and indoctrinating them into his bizarre, twisted world of ‘drag queens.’”
“James Talarico's twisted friends aren't just too radical for Texas; they're too dangerous to be allowed within 100 feet of a school,” said Paxton campaign spokeswoman Madison Cercy, urging Talarico to apologize and to condemn Edwards’ conduct.
A day after the ad ran, Edwards posted an open letter on X (formerly Twitter) on Sept. 23 from her home in Mesquite, Texas, calling the ad an attempt to disparage her name, character and reputation and questioning the motive behind singling her out.
Edwards’ Response
Edwards urged leaders to focus on policy and leadership rather than personal attacks. “The way we choose to speak about others often says far more about our own character than it ever will about theirs,” she wrote. She described herself in the post as an educator with three decades of experience, a choreographer, entrepreneur and mentor, in addition to being a drag performer.
She highlighted her work with Beyond Belief Dance Company, which began as a YMCA community recreation program and has grown into an organization that seeks to help young people develop creativity, discipline and self-confidence. Edwards also noted several television appearances and accomplishments, including performing with her students on America’s Got Talent, competing on Amazon’s The GOAT, appearing on ABC’s To Tell the Truth, and winning on RuPaul’s Drag Race: Global All Stars, representing the United States.
Edwards added that she was raised in the Baptist church and that her Christian faith "remains part of her story," writing that different life experiences do not diminish a person’s faith, service or ability to contribute positively to their community.
“Ultimately, I am proud of who I am. I know who I am. I know what I stand for, and what I still hope to accomplish,” she wrote, closing with: “Texas is big enough for all of us.”
Context
The exchange and ad come amid a heated Texas Senate race in which opponents have increasingly used cultural and personal attacks to draw contrasts. Edwards’ response reframed the conversation around her professional and community work while calling for a focus on policy and leadership.
This version is based on reporting by Mateo Rosiles for USA TODAY.
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