Willie Nelson Endorses James Talarico in Texas Senate Race

Country music star Willie Nelson endorsed Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat challenging Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate, in a video posted October 8. Nelson urged Texans to vote for Talarico, saying he had gotten to know him and believed he would make a good senator. The endorsement was tied to the launch of Rural Texans for Talarico, an initiative focused on issues affecting rural communities. Its stated priorities include data centers, health care workers and internet access. The campaign effort comes as Talarico seeks support beyond Texas’s major cities in a race that has drawn national attention. Talarico appeared with Nelson at the singer’s annual Fourth of July Picnic in Austin earlier this year. Nelson also recorded endorsement videos for Democratic candidates Gina Hinojosa, who is running for governor, and Vikki Goodwin, who is seeking the lieutenant governor’s office. Polling cited in the reporting shows Talarico with an advantage in some surveys, though the results vary by poll and voter population. A New York Times-Siena poll released October 3 put him at 51% and Paxton at 45% among 615 likely voters.