Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, talked about his accomplishments, plans to help Texas families and the need for GOP voters to be involved during a Wednesday campaign stop in El Paso.
Paxton, 63, also made time to belittle his Democratic opponent in the Nov. 3 election, James Talarico, in front of an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 people who filled the Summit Ballroom, 120 N. Festival Drive, on the Westside.
The candidate said his campaign was about faith, family and freedom. He asked those present to pray for his campaign, to join as a donor or volunteer, and to ask at least two people everyday to join them in voting for him and other Republicans on the ballot. He said that was a winning strategy.
“There is so much at stake in this election,” Paxton told the crowd that interrupted him numerous times with applause. “Texas is not just another state on the board. You lose Texas, you lose America. Every poll in this race is razor thin. This one gets decided by who shows up, and nobody in this room should sit this one out.”
This marked Paxton’s first El Paso stop in his general election Senate campaign, dubbed “Protecting the Texas Promise” tour.
He faces Talarico, a state representative from the Austin area, in the Nov. 3 general election. Talarico, 37, is a Presbyterian seminarian and former teacher. He was first elected to that office in 2018. His current term ends Jan. 12.
Paxton talked about his legal successes as attorney general, including $3.4 billion in settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies, and more recently a $1 billion child safety settlement with Meta.
He asked the audience to compare his record of accomplishments to that of Talarico, who he said had a radical agenda, including additional taxes and support of transgender student athletes.
Talarico has advocated for more taxes, but they would be targeted against large corporations and the ultra-wealthy billionaires. He initially opposed restrictions on transgender athletes, but more recently has said that he would be against transgender athletes competing in girls sports if there were safety or fairness concerns.
The attorney general recently launched a campaign touting an economic plan around tax breaks for health care and housing-related expenses, and the doubling of the child tax credit.
“Parents know what to do with their money better than Washington,” he said.
Paxton was accompanied by Brandon Herrera, 41, the Republican nominee for Texas’ 23rd congressional district that includes a portion of far East El Paso.
Prior to the ceremony, Herrera told El Paso Matters that he did not have time to answer questions, but admitted jokingly that the campaign made him tired.
“But if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it right,” he said.
Herrera, a gun activist, firearms manufacturer and controversial YouTuber, became the party’s nominee after longtime incumbent Tony Gonzales abruptly dropped out of the race after finishing second in the March primary. Gonzales resigned his House seat a few weeks later prior to a planned expulsion resolution against him because of a sexual relationship with a staff member who later took her own life.
Herrera now faces Democrat Katy Padilla Stout, a San Antonio attorney and former teacher, for the seat that is currently vacant.
During his brief remarks to the audience, he likened the event to a “victory rally.”
Paxton defeated longtime Republican incumbent John Cornyn, 74, in the Republican primary runoff in May after being endorsed by President Donald Trump. Talarico defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic nomination in the March primary.
A loyal supporter of Trump, Paxton has said he will champion the president’s agenda, including securing the border and deporting undocumented immigrants, in addition to protecting gun rights and fighting against the “radical transgender movement.”
Paxton, who was first elected attorney general in 2014, will complete his current term Jan. 1. Prior to that, the candidate served as a state senator for two years and a state representative for 10 years.
Paxton’s campaign against Talarico has focused heavily on their views on Christianity and transgender rights, with Paxton advocating for school prayer and displays of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, and strict legal opposition of transgender rights.
Talarico and his supporters have said that he has mainly stayed consistent in his support for transgender rights. His Christian beliefs center on social justice, the separation of church and state, and to weigh public policy through a “love thy neighbor” lens.
While Paxton has called Talarico “the most radical Democrat in Texas history,” Talarico has called Paxton “the most corrupt politician in America.”
Paxton was indicted on felony security fraud charges in 2015, and was impeached by the Texas House on allegations of abuse of office in 2023. He was acquitted of the impeachment articles by the Texas Senate, and the fraud charges were dismissed in 2025 after Paxton completed an 18-month pre-trial diversion agreement.
The latest campaign finance records as of July 15 show Talarcio raised about $72 million, while Paxton reported raising just under $17 million, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission. Republican super PACS have recently spent tens of millions of dollars supporting Paxton and opposing Talarico.
The Texas Senate seat race is one of the most expensive in recent history, according to the Texas Tribune.
Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, when Lloyd Bentsen won the seat.
The race is one of 35 Senate seats up for election in November. U.S. senators serve six-year terms and are paid $174,000 a year.
The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 midterm election is Oct. 5. Early voting is Oct. 19-30.
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