Posted on 10/21/2026 6:42:47 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
Republican Texas Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton took his campaign through the Houston area on Tuesday, with stops in Conroe and Sugar Land. Voters packed an event space at The Table at Madeley in Conroe to hear Paxton speak.
Paxton used nearly 20 minutes on stage to outline his plan to fight rising prices and to stress his record as attorney general.
"When [President] Joe Biden came for the Lone Star State, I went after him. I took him to court and sued him 107 times in four years, and I won," Paxton said. "Biden declared war on Texas energy, so I hauled him into court. And that’s one of the reasons that President Trump said that I was the most effective attorney general in the country."
Sign up for the Hello, Houston! daily newsletter to get local reports like this delivered directly to your inbox. Paxton, speaking after U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, stressed his support for President Donald Trump. The Conroe event followed several leaked recordings of Paxton, one of which included Paxton speculating that Trump's appearance at the Republican Party's September midterm convention in Dallas might have hurt Paxton's polling numbers.
Paxton also spent much of his speech attacking his Democratic opponent, state Rep. James Talarico, stating that control of the U.S. Senate is at stake in the Texas contest.
"A vote for James Talarico is not just a vote for his radical agenda. I wish it was that simple. It’s a vote for a guy named Chuck Schumer to run the Senate," Paxton said. "It’s a vote for every dangerous idea that Democrats across the country are putting forward right now."
Talarico will make his own campaign swing through the Houston area on Wednesday, with stops in Houston and Fort Bend County. Most polling shows the contest between Paxton and Talarico is a statistical dead heat.
Paxton supporters at the event named a variety of reasons why they either have already voted for Paxton or why they intend to do so. Thomas Howell, a retired U.S. Army veteran, said he liked the attorney general's economic proposals.
"I like the fact that he did the Trump thing with no tax on the tips and no tax on overtime," Howell said. "It seemed like it would be a way to put money back into the economy."
Sherrilyn Todero, retired from the legal field, cited the 2023 impeachment and acquittal of Paxton as a reason to support the attorney general, saying it was a sign Paxton was upsetting the right people.
"If he does certain things that are good, they can’t stand it," Todero said. "So, I think he’s done a lot of good things for the state, and I know he’s not afraid to prosecute anyone and go after the bad people."
Erika Johnson, a personal assistant and student, gave a similar reason, focusing specifically on Paxton's record of combatting human trafficking.
"I do have a friend who was a victim of that, and with [Paxton’s] initiative whenever he first became attorney general, that was really big on my heart," Johnson said.
For some, like retired petroleum engineer Mark Petrichuk, the decision was as simple as the fact that Paxton is not Talarico.
“The Affordable Care Act was horrible, and it’s practically ruined my kids,” Petrichuk said. “You know, they have to scramble every year to get good health insurance.”
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Oh? Has he decided to start to campaign?
I don’t understand how the GOP manages to run so many lousy candidates. Here in Ohio, Vivek just stepped into a mess, and Husted presents like a deer in the headlights. So discouraging.
The Bush family is letting a couple of their lesser known brethren publicly state their desire for Talafreako. Obviously, Talafreako is in trouble if the Bush family has to resort to this tactic.
Paxton out on the campaign trail is working and this trip to Houston and resulted in record early voting turnout in the Houston area.
I feel a *little* better about Texas than I did a few weeks ago.
The most recent polling is tighter and I feel pretty confidant that if it stays within a point or so, Paxton can pull it out.
Don't forget Graham and Whatley in the Carolinas and Collins in Georgia. The common denominator seems to be endorsement by Trump.
“Talarico speaks with respect, seeks common ground, and seems genuinely interested in bringing people together rather than driving them apart. His faith appears to be a deeply rooted source of humility, compassion, and conviction rather than a political weapon.
I see in him the qualities I admire most in public servants: integrity, civility, humility, and a willingness to listen to those with whom he disagrees. My impression is that he is a principled, pragmatic leader who understands that public office is a responsibility to serve, not an entitlement to power.”
-Neil Bush
Should Paxton call out the entire Bush klan when he wins? Normally Trump would have greater effect. But there are a lot of Bush republicans throughout the country that could tip the scales 2 years from now. Paxton does it and he’s off the hook for 6 years.
I’m talkin’ rubbing their noses in the (honest) dirt. Speak the truth in the most blunt of terms and let the LGBTQ go even more crazy.
Michelle Tafoya. If she wins I hope she’ll save her best shot for the girlie men at ESPN & the NFL. Tell Goodell that Condi Rice should be in his seat. That would SPREAD the war into areas no republican has gone before-think Star Trek.
Talarico's Pastor: ‘People in This Church’ Wish Would-Be Trump Assassin ‘Had Been More Successful’
Talarico Said Capitalism Is an ‘Oppressive System’ That Must Be ‘Dismantled’
James Talarico Event Host Joins Protest Coalition With Communist, Socialist Groups
James Talarico Calls the Idea That Christians Are America's Villains 'Spot On'
Talarico’s Gender Mutilation Record Comes Under Fire in Texas Senate Race
James Talarico Headlined Pride Event Alongside 11-Year-Old Child Drag Queen
The Talarico Campaign Finally Confirmed This Scandal After Months of Hiding
The ‘TransQueer Latinx’ theologian who ‘continues to inspire’ James Talarico
Will James Talarico Drop His Pedophile-Protecting Political Ally?
James Talarico: "God is not a being."
Talarico Campaign Refuses to Deny He Had Inappropriate Relationships With Other Staffers
Texas Democrat Senate Hopeful James Talarico Refers to Women as ‘Neighbors with a Uterus’
‘God Is Queer’: See The Sexually Explicit Books James Talarico’s Church Gives Kids
James Talarico said there are six sexes while opposing ban on men in women’s sports
If it’s any consolation, these numbers are from memory but are close.
Photo ID is required.
Early voting in Texas broke all records on the first day. The previous record was 65,000. Now it is 110,000.
The largest turnouts were in Harris County (Houston) and Dallas.
Four of the five Harris County precincts with the highest turnout are in bright red areas.
The Paxton/Talfreako race is the headliner bringing people to the polls, but there may also be some down ticket benefits. My ballot had 132 races to vote on. All but 10 were court judges. I’m hoping for a red sweep to wipe out the lawlessness of the 2018 blue rout.
EC
He should Slotkin them, the whole family, make them regret associating themselves with Freako….turn about is fair play….
With 2 weeks to go there is a sign of life!!
Vivek didn't step into a mess. He was intentionally sabotaged.
“Vivek didn’t step into a mess. He was intentionally sabotaged.”
It’s reported he stood by the ad. Hard to make Acton look like a sympathetic figure, but that was done.
So he speaks with respect-—HIS POLICIES AND BELIEFS ARE UTTERLY liberal and dangerous, in every way!!
Neil Bush is NOT A SMART PERSON!
The mess??
I saw an add w the Mom saying her daughter is lying, she didn’t live in a tent.
Then I hear this morning on talk radio about the candidate her being SA’d as a 12 yo. I NEVER saw/heard anything about that in the ad, so where is Vivek off?
Did I not see other ads?? Confused where Vivek stepped in it....
I am not convinced record turnout is helping Paxton more than Talarico. I've been in the state for eight years, and I've seen some strange political outcomes here.
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