Paxton paints Talarico as one of the most anti-police politicians in TX history
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton framed his U.S. Senate Democratic opponent James Talarico as the enemy of law enforcement at his first Fort Worth news conference of the campaign trail.
Tuesday afternoon, Paxton spoke at a podium plastered with a fake Talarico mugshot with three “charges” about his voting record and donations as a Texas senator.
In front of 20 independent Texas sheriffs, Paxton gave the same speech he gave two hours earlier to the Sheriffs Association of Texas conference attendees across the street in the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Alongside Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, the sheriffs association president Brian Hawthorne and Texas Rep. AJ Louderback, Paxton said elected leaders must stand firmly with law enforcement. That’s always been his philosophy, he said.
Paxton pointed to his record of prosecuting violent criminals, defending police in court and the two specialized units he created as attorney general to combat human trafficking and solve cold cases.
“While we have been working to support law enforcement, there have been others working to undermine it,” Paxton said. “In 2020, across the country, politicians, activists, and media figures embraced the radical idea of defunding the police. Officers were unfairly demonized, and departments were attacked.”
When it was unpopular to back the blue, Paxton did just that, he told the crowded press gaggle.
Talarico, Paxton said the Democrat’s campaign “proudly donated” $2,500 to Austin Justice Coalition, a group that wanted the city to defund Austin Police Department and use the money to invest in minority communities.
When it comes to Talarico’s voting record in the Texas Legislature, the senator has “one of the most anti-law enforcement records in the history of Texas,” Paxton said. The policies Talarico supports, Paxton said, would bring more danger to Texans.
About an hour before the news conference, Talarico also spoke to the Sheriffs Association of Texas conference attendees and said he is proud of his record in the legislature and has never been in favor of defunding the police.
“I know earlier today my opponent was here telling some lies about my record, honesty is not his strong suit,” Talarico said. “In the legislature, I have voted to allocate $56 billion to law enforcement agencies, agencies that are charged in public safety and criminal justice. I am not — let me say this as clearly as I possibly can — I am not, nor have ever been, for defunding the police.”
In response to Paxton’s statements, Talarico campaign spokesperson JT Ennis said the Republican has used his office in favor of the wealthy and allowed well-connected criminals out from behind bars.
“Even Ken Paxton’s fellow Republicans have blasted his public safety record: more murders, soft on human trafficking, and pedophiles walking free,” Ennis said.
If elected to the U.S. Senate, Paxton said he would push to fully fund President Donald Trump’s security agenda, secure the Texas-Mexico border and fight the cartels bringing drugs into America. He said he would also protect qualified immunity for officers and support detaining and deporting immigrants who lack permanent legal status.
The attorney general opened the floor to questions about law enforcement. On his way out of the room after answering a query about winning over voters, Paxton said just because he is focused on public safety, doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about other issues.
“Ken Paxton just refused to answer basic questions about reports he committed voter fraud and expanded his real estate portfolio to 15 properties on a government salary because he has no answers for his corruption,” Ennis said. “If Paxton can’t answer these simple questions, what is he planning to do in a debate?”
Texas’s next U.S. Senator will be announced after Election Day on Nov. 3. Early voting is from Oct. 19-30.
This story was originally published July 21, 2026 at 2:29 PM with the headline "Paxton paints Talarico as one of the most anti-police politicians in TX history."