Paxton avoids scandal questions at Fort Worth Senate event

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, faced pointed questions about his personal finances and voting history during a campaign event in Fort Worth on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, but declined to address them, instead focusing his remarks on attacking his Democratic opponent’s record on law enforcement. The event highlighted the sharp contrasts in a race that polls show is a statistical tie.

Paxton spoke at a press conference flanked by over a dozen sheriffs, using a podium adorned with a mock mugshot of his opponent, state Representative James Talarico, bearing the caption “Talarico: Handcuffed to his record.” He accused Talarico of having “one of the most anti-law enforcement records in the history of Texas” and criticized a $2,500 donation Talarico’s campaign made to the Austin Justice Coalition, a group that advocated for reallocating police funds. Paxton pledged that, if elected, he would push to secure the border, fight drug cartels, and protect qualified immunity for police officers.

When reporters attempted to shift the topic to recent scandals, Paxton and his staff shut down the inquiries. One journalist asked about a New York Times report...