The Texas Senate Race Is Going to Be Pure Slime

Texas Senate Primary Results and Recent Political Developments

The Texas Republican primary for U.S. Senate concluded this week with state Attorney General Ken Paxton defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton received 64 percent of the vote to Cornyn’s 36 percent after former President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton the prior week. Two Republican Senate incumbents have now lost primaries this cycle, following Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy’s earlier defeat.

Cornyn had served in the Senate since 2002 and previously held the position of Senate Republican whip. He raised substantial campaign funds from Texas donors and aligned with Republican leadership positions on most votes. Trump’s endorsement of Paxton followed a period of tension between the president and some Senate Republicans over legislative procedures, including the filibuster and parliamentary rules. Cassidy’s loss had been linked to his 2021 vote to convict Trump in an impeachment trial.

Democratic Nominee James Talarico Faces Republican Campaign Focus

Democrats nominated state Rep. James Talarico to face Paxton in the general election. Republican groups and Paxton’s campaign highlighted several past statements by Talarico. These included comments describing God as nonbinary, stating there are six biological sexes, and referring to white skin providing immunity from racism. Republican messaging also claimed Talarico is vegan, though he has been documented ordering breakfast tacos without meat.

Paxton referred to Talarico during his victory speech as “Six-Gender Jimmy,” “Low-T Talarico,” “Tofu Talarico,” and “James Tala-freako.” Online commentary from some accounts questioned Talarico’s sexual orientation, despite reports that he has a girlfriend. White House adviser Stephen Miller described Talarico as transgender. Talarico stated that the attacks selectively used his remarks to divert attention from Paxton’s record. Paxton has faced multiple legal matters during his tenure as attorney general, including securities fraud charges that were later dismissed and a separate whistleblower lawsuit.

Department of Justice Actions Regarding E. Jean Carroll

The Department of Justice issued a statement indicating it has not opened a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll. Carroll previously prevailed in civil lawsuits against Trump for defamation and sexual abuse, resulting in judgments totaling tens of millions of dollars. CNN reported that the department is examining whether Carroll committed perjury in a deposition by stating she had not received outside funding for her lawsuit. Reports later indicated that Reid Hoffman, a technology executive and Democratic donor, had provided financial support to the case. Any investigation would involve questions about funding disclosure in the prior litigation.

PAC Activity in Texas Congressional Race

A political action committee called Lead Left spent nearly $1 million supporting Maureen Galindo in the Democratic primary for Texas’ 35th Congressional District. Galindo, a sex therapist, faced the party’s preferred candidate, Johnny Garcia. The PAC’s filings listed an address at a Staples store in Florida, and metadata indicated connections to Republican-linked entities. Galindo posted on Instagram that she would convert an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center into a facility for “American Zionists” and described it as a “castration processing center for pedophiles.” Galindo lost the runoff 64 percent to 36 percent. Democrats had previously criticized similar PAC efforts by Republicans in other states.

Proposal on International Travel Processing

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin discussed plans to limit or halt processing of international travelers in jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Mullin stated on Fox News that sanctuary cities restricting local assistance to federal authorities should not receive international flight processing. CNN reported that the proposal originated more from Mullin personally than from White House direction. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in a congressional hearing that air travel should not be shut down based on state political disagreements. Implementation would require coordination across multiple agencies and could affect major airports in several states.

Florida Redistricting and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a congressional map that divided the existing district of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz into five parts. Wasserman Schultz, who has represented areas in Broward County since 2005, selected Florida’s new 20th District, which is plurality Black and majority minority. She does not currently reside in the district. Members of Florida’s Democratic National Committee objected to the choice, noting the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais that removed certain protections for majority-minority districts. Wasserman Schultz cited her position as the No. 2 Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee as a reason for selecting the safer district.

Maine Senate Race and Rep. Jake Auchincloss Comments

Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts stated in a CNN interview that he finds Graham Platner’s tattoo and related commentary personally disqualifying for a Senate candidacy in Maine. Platner is seeking the Democratic nomination against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. Auchincloss added that Platner’s approach would not produce durable Democratic majorities nationally. Some Democratic Party organizations have delayed endorsements in the race. The comments occurred after former Gov. Janet Mills withdrew from consideration.

The Texas general election between Paxton and Talarico will occur in November, alongside other federal and state contests. Campaign spending in the Senate race is expected to exceed several hundred million dollars.