The must-have candidate floundered on a MAGA-friendly network.
The Texas Senate candidate, hand-picked by President Donald Trump, offered a bizarre response when cornered by his opponent’s growing support among Republicans.
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty pressed the scandal-plagued Paxton about Democrat James Talarico’s latest campaign ad, which touts the support of several top Texas Republicans.
“I want to ask you about this: the RINO problem,” the host said. “These are people who are Republicans, in this case, in your state. This is an ad Talarico dropped today; take a look.”
The ad features several prominent Texas Republicans, including former Rep. Alan Steelman, former state Rep. Bennett Ratliff and former state Rep. Todd Smith, saying they are “passing on Ken Paxton” while singing Talarico’s praises.
“I truly believe (Paxton) is the most corrupt politician Texas has ever seen,” former Republican Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said in the video.
Finnerty said “you can add Karl Rove to that list” of Republicans voting for Talarico. He also mentioned that members of former President George W. Bush’s family were doing the same.
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“What is your reaction to this?” » he then asked Paxton, who had just left an awkward little gathering at a hotel sports bar in San Angelo, Texas.
Veteran GOP strategist Karl Rove warned that Paxton risks losing the election if he refuses to debate Talarico.
“Well, first of all, you know, I don’t know if these people have been with us long, some of them,” Paxton, 63, began. “I don’t think most Republicans are in that boat.”
He continued awkwardly: “And obviously James Talarico can’t prove anything he says. He doesn’t want to talk about his record or mine. ‘Let’s talk about something else called corruption that I’m making up that’s never been proven,’ just like it hasn’t been proven with President Trump.”
“You know, it’s nice to, uh, make allegations, but James Talarico never puts any evidence behind it, or any evidence behind what he’s actually running on.”
Texas Senate Democratic candidate James Talarico is leading in the polls.
Danielle Villasana/Getty Images
Paxton was indicted in 2015 on securities fraud charges, but avoided trial in 2024 thanks to a pretrial agreement. Without admitting guilt, he paid $300,000 and performed 100 hours of community service.
In May 2023, the Texas House of Representatives impeached him on charges of corruption, abuse of power, and misuse of state resources, but the state Senate acquitted him four months later.
Paxton’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Talarico, 37, has gained significant bipartisan support in ruby-red Texas, putting him several points ahead of Paxton in polls in the home stretch of his campaign. If he wins on Tuesday, he will become the first Democratic U.S. senator elected from Texas since 1988.
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