Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate James Talarico called Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton the "most corrupt politician in America" during a CBS News interview.
The comments come as the Texas Senate race intensifies following a GOP runoff in which Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn [3]. Talarico's rhetoric signals a strategy to center the general election on the legal and ethical controversies surrounding the Attorney General.
During the interview with anchor Ed O'Keefe, Talarico targeted the conduct of the state's top legal officer. He said Paxton is giving out "Epstein‑style sweetheart deals to pedophiles."
Talarico is positioning himself as a challenger in a high-stakes national environment. There are 14 U.S. Senate seats up for election in November 2026 [1], and 10 of those seats are currently held by Republicans [2].
Beyond the attacks on Paxton, Talarico addressed issues of faith and reproductive rights. He said the Bible is silent on abortion.
The Democratic nominee used the platform to promote his candidacy ahead of the November race. The interview took place at the CBS News streaming studio and was broadcast on CBS News 24/7.
“"Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America."”
Talarico's aggressive framing of Attorney General Ken Paxton suggests that Democrats intend to leverage Paxton's legal history and the internal GOP rift caused by his victory over John Cornyn to flip a Republican-held seat in a traditionally red state.
