Paxton's Ex-Lawyer Backs Talarico in Texas Senate Race

Dan Cogdell, the lawyer who represented Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for nearly a decade during corruption and securities fraud accusations, has endorsed Democrat James Talarico in the U.S. Senate race. According to multiple reports, Cogdell was part of Paxton's defense team during his historic impeachment trial in 2023, which ended in acquittal.

Cogdell criticized Paxton for being too focused on appeasing President Trump, stating that while he didn't dislike Paxton personally and agreed with his acquittal, he believed Paxton was not the right choice for Texas. 'I worked my ass off for the man for nine years,' Cogdell said in an interview with The Associated Press. 'But that’s a different inquiry. My obligation to Ken ended at the courthouse steps and my obligation as a citizen is to do what I think is the right thing.'

Talarico has made Paxton's legal troubles a central issue in his campaign, drawing attention to Cogdell's endorsement as a significant boost. The Democratic nominee has been campaigning on issues like education and healthcare, aiming to flip the Texas seat blue amid Democratic hopes of retaking control of the U.S. Senate in November.

Paxton recently beat Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican Senate primary runoff with Trump's endorsement. According to CBS News and The Daily Mail, Paxton met with Senate Republican leaders who had previously backed Cornyn but now embraced Paxton and will help him raise money. Political forecasters have shifted the Texas Senate race from 'likely Republican' to 'lean Republican'.

Senator John Cornyn believes Democrats could make the rest of Donald Trump's presidency 'the most miserable two years of his life' after the midterm elections. The Texas Republican, who was ousted by Paxton in the primary runoff with a late endorsement from Trump, thinks that Paxton and other candidates chosen by Trump were given the nod because of the President's desire for 'slavish' loyalty.

A federal judge blocked a lawsuit by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue. According to UPI, Judge Richard Stearns granted ActBlue a preliminary injunction banning Paxton from continuing the litigation, finding that ActBlue was likely to win in its claims that the suit infringed on its First Amendment's free-speech protections.

The judge said the suit was filed in retaliation for ActBlue raising funds for James Talarico, who is running against Paxton. 'The lawsuit in Texas is undoubtedly an adverse action,' Stearns wrote in the order. Paxton began an investigation in 2023 against the organization for allegedly enabling international donors to make gifts through gift cards and prepaid debit cards. President Donald Trump requested the investigation before he was re-elected.

Talarico's campaign reported raising $40 million through March with $9.9 million on hand, while Paxton raised just $7.6 million through May 6 and had only $2.3 million in the bank. Republicans are concerned about Trump's potential financial support for Paxton, as his super PAC, MAGA Inc., has a $356 million war chest but has not yet committed any money to help Paxton.

Senate Republicans’ campaign arm warned that a Paxton nomination would put Texas in play for Democrats and cause Republicans to divert hundreds of millions of dollars from other key battlegrounds. However, Gregg Keller, a spokesman for the pro-Paxton Lone Star Liberty PAC, stated that Republicans are coalescing behind Paxton as he builds momentum through Election Day.

Talarico has been drawing crowds in deeply Republican counties by discussing his Christian faith and policies aimed at taking on billionaires. Republicans have accused him of holding heretical views and attacked him on immigration and gender issues. A June 9 Texas Pulse poll shows a tied race.