Paxton-Talarico Texas Senate race turns on scandals and gender attacks

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wasted little time after securing the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. The day after defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a runoff, Paxton released an ad labeling his Democratic opponent, state Rep. James Talarico, as "too low-T for Texas." The spot drew on a familiar right-wing trope that equates testosterone levels with political fitness.

Paxton followed the ad with a series of public remarks that expanded the line of attack. He referred to Talarico as "tofu Talarico," "six-gender Jimmy," and "Low-T Talarico," drawing laughter from supporters at a campaign event. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller amplified the message, telling Fox News that Democrats had nominated their "first transgender Senate candidate." Miller added that "when Talarico goes in for a blood test, blood doesn't come out. Soy milk comes out."

Talarico, a 36-year-old state representative and former seminarian, is not transgender. He is cisgender and has been in a relationship with a woman. He has positioned himself as an ally to LGBTQ+ Texans while emphasizing his Christian faith and legislative record on public education and abortion access.

The episode illustrates a pattern that has become more pronounced in Republican campaigns since Donald Trump reshaped the party. Explicit appeals to traditional notions of masculinity now serve as shorthand for attacking Democratic opponents, regardless of their actual biographies. Similar rhetoric has appeared in other races, often bypassing policy differences in favor of personal taunts.

Paxton's own record offers a contrast that Democrats are likely to highlight. The attorney general survived an impeachment trial in 2023 on charges that included bribery and misuse of office. He was acquitted along party lines. His wife, a former state senator, later filed for divorce. Trump endorsed Paxton in the Senate primary, helping him overcome Cornyn's advantages in fundraising and establishment support.

Talarico has drawn early national attention from Democratic donors who see Texas as a long-shot but symbolically important target. His past comments, including a 2021 floor speech in which he described God as "non-binary," have already surfaced in Republican attacks. Talarico has since said those remarks were meant to be provocative rather than literal.

The contest is expected to test whether Paxton's legal vulnerabilities outweigh the cultural arguments Republicans are deploying. Early polling has shown a wide gap, though Talarico has not yet begun major advertising. Both campaigns have signaled that personal attacks will continue through November.