Ken Paxton Texas Senate Campaign: What Veterans Should Know
The 2026 Texas U.S. Senate race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic State Rep. James Talarico is in a statistical dead heat, with recent polling showing Paxton at 47% and Talarico at 46% among likely voters . For veterans and military families, the race presents a clear contrast: Paxton has a record of securing over $6.8 million in debt relief for disabled veterans scammed by a fraudulent VA assistance company , while Talarico has rolled out a veteran-specific policy platform and secured the endorsement of Common Defense, a veteran-led grassroots organization . Neither candidate is a veteran, though Paxton’s father served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force .
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Race | Texas U.S. Senate (open seat) |
| Republican Candidate | Ken Paxton (Texas Attorney General) |
| Democratic Candidate | James Talarico (State Representative) |
| Incumbent | Sen. John Cornyn (defeated in GOP primary) |
| Polling (Aug 2026) | Paxton 47%, Talarico 46% (statistical tie) |
| Election Day | November 3, 2026 |
| Key Endorsement | President Trump (Paxton) |
| Notable Veterans Endorsement | Common Defense (Talarico) |
| Key Veterans Action | Paxton secured $6.8M debt relief for disabled veterans |
| State with 1.7M Veterans | Texas |
The Candidates and the Race
A Dead Heat for an Open Seat
The race to replace outgoing Sen. John Cornyn has become one of the most closely watched and expensive midterm battles in the country . An Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey conducted August 9-10, 2026, showed Paxton at 47% and Talarico at 46% among likely Texas voters, with 5% undecided .
Age divide:Â The poll revealed a significant generational split. Voters under 50 favor Talarico by 15 points (53% to 38%), while voters over 50 break for Paxton by 11 points (53% to 42%)Â .
GOP concerns: Sen. Ted Cruz has warned that Talarico has a “real chance” to beat Paxton, calling the race “a 1- or 2-point” contest . Texas Republicans are openly worried about losing a statewide race for the first time in three decades .
Ken Paxton: Record and Controversies
Ken Paxton has served as Texas Attorney General since 2015 and has been a close ally of President Trump . His tenure has been marked by both significant conservative legal victories and multiple controversies:
Securities fraud charges: Paxton was indicted in 2015 on felony charges of duping investors in a tech company. The case ended in a 2024 pretrial agreement, with Paxton ordered to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution and complete 100 hours of community service .
Impeachment and acquittal:Â The Texas State House impeached Paxton in May 2023 on articles including bribery and abuse of public trust. He was acquitted by the Texas Senate in September 2023Â .
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Check EligibilityWhistleblower lawsuit: Four former top employees sued Paxton, alleging he abused his office to assist a donor. A judge awarded them more than $6 million, finding they acted “in good faith” .
Divorce: His wife, State Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce in July 2025 after 38 years of marriage .
James Talarico: Background and Platform
James Talarico is a state representative from Round Rock who has served in the Texas House since 2019. He defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary .
Veteran-specific platform: Talarico has pledged to “fight for them the way they fight for us” and released a veterans policy plan . He has been endorsed by Common Defense, a veteran-led grassroots organization .
Economic populism: Talarico has staked his campaign on a populist economic message, arguing that “we have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis” .
Campaign spending: Talarico’s campaign has spent $21 million on ads since the runoff, compared to $100,000 by Paxton’s campaign .
Veterans Issues and the Candidates
Paxton’s Veterans Record: The VA Claims Insider Case
In January 2026, Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a major victory for disabled veterans . His office sued VA Claims Insider, LLC, which was accused of:
Posing as a legitimate veterans’ assistance organization
Deceptively charging disabled veterans fees for help navigating VA benefits
Misrepresenting services as “free” while obscuring contract terms and true costs
Misrepresenting its relationship to recommended medical providers
Pursuing aggressive debt collection against veterans who refused to payÂ
The result: Under a final judgment and permanent injunction, VA Claims Insider is prohibited from collecting debts from veterans who were misled. The company agreed to forego debt collection on qualifying debts incurred over the past nine years—an estimated over $6.8 million in debt forgiveness for disabled veterans .
What this means: Veterans who were scammed by VA Claims Insider are no longer responsible for those debts. The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) commended Paxton, stating the outcome demonstrates “that strong enforcement, paired with clear standards, can deliver meaningful relief” .
Paxton’s Veterans Rhetoric
Paxton has emphasized his military family background. His father served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 pilot, and the family moved frequently—stationed in Florida, New York, North Carolina, California, and Oklahoma—before Paxton moved to Texas to attend Baylor University .
Paxton stated: “I couldn’t be prouder to have grown up in a military family, traveling the nation. I will always fight to ensure our 1.7 million military families and veterans have the support they deserve and that America never forgets the sacrifices they’ve made for our freedom” .
Talarico’s Veterans Platform
On the same day Paxton announced his congressional endorsements, Common Defense endorsed Talarico . Common Defense Executive Director Jose Vasquez stated:
“For far too long, the people of Texas have watched politicians in power put their own interests and political loyalty ahead of the people they were elected to serve. That is why we are excited to endorse State Representative James Talarico” .
Vasquez said Talarico’s record proves he is willing to “stand up to conservative efforts to privatize the VA, as well as ensure veterans have access to healthcare, housing, job training and career opportunities” .
Talarico’s “Transplant” Controversy
Talarico’s campaign criticized Paxton as a “California transplant” in a speech, leading to backlash from Paxton’s team . Paxton asserted his move to Texas was related to his father’s military service and called on Talarico to explain why the children of service members stationed in Texas are “less Texan” .
A Paxton campaign spokesperson stated: “It is outrageous that Talarico is attacking the attorney general for growing up in a military family, claiming that if you weren’t born in Texas, you aren’t a Texan” .
Counterpoint: Talarico’s alleged opposition to military funding stems from his opposition to President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, which tied increased military spending to cuts to social programs like SNAP and Medicaid .
Endorsements: Who’s Backing Whom
Paxton’s Endorsements
Paxton has secured endorsements from 18 of 24 Republican members of the Texas U.S. House delegation :
Rep. Jodey Arrington
Rep. August Pfluger
Rep. Wesley Hunt
Rep. Craig Goldman
Rep. Monica De La Cruz
Rep. Nathaniel Moran
Rep. Pat Fallon
Rep. Lance Gooden
Rep. Randy Weber
Rep. Troy Nehls
Rep. Beth Van Duyne
Rep. Roger Williams
Rep. John Carter
Rep. Brandon Gill
Rep. Brian Babin
Rep. Michael Cloud
Rep. Pete Sessions
Rep. Ronny Jackson
Key endorsements: President Trump, who endorsed Paxton ahead of the May primary runoff .
Texas Republicans Not Endorsing Paxton
Six Texas Republican House members have not yet endorsed Paxton :
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02)
Rep. Keith Self (TX-03)
Rep. Jake Ellzey (TX-06)
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (TX-08)
Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10)
Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21)
Talarico’s Endorsements
Notable Talarico endorsements include :
Common Defense (veteran-led grassroots organization)
Dan Cogdell (attorney who served on Paxton’s impeachment defense team)
Former President Barack Obama (visited Austin in May to show support, though did not formally endorse)
Crockett’s position: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who ran against Talarico in the Democratic primary, has called for Democrats to rally behind the nominee but told the Dallas Morning News she was unsure if she would actively campaign for him .
Cornyn’s Position
Outgoing Sen. John Cornyn has not publicly endorsed anyone. He was critical of Paxton during the bitter runoff election, calling him “an albatross around the neck of our candidates” .
What Veterans Should Do Next
1. Check Your Voter Registration
The deadline to register to vote in Texas for the November 3, 2026, election is October 5, 2026Â . Ensure your registration is current.
2. Research the Candidates
Both candidates have different approaches to veterans issues:
Paxton has a record of enforcement against fraudulent VA assistance companies
Talarico has released a veterans policy platform and received endorsements from veteran organizations
3. Understand the Polling Context
The race is a statistical tie. Every vote will matter. As Sen. Cruz noted, “the polling right now shows this is a 1- or 2-point race” .
4. Contact the Candidates Directly
Veterans and military families can contact both campaigns to ask about their specific positions on VA healthcare, benefits, housing, and other priorities.
5. Vote
Early voting in Texas runs October 19-30, 2026. Election Day is November 3, 2026Â .
Common Questions
Is Ken Paxton a veteran?
No. Ken Paxton is not a veteran. However, his father served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 pilot, and Paxton grew up in a military family that moved frequently due to his father’s service .
Is James Talarico a veteran?
No. James Talarico is not a veteran. He has released a veterans policy platform and received endorsements from veteran organizations including Common Defense .
What has Ken Paxton done for veterans?
As Texas Attorney General, Paxton secured over $6.8 million in debt relief for disabled veterans who were scammed by VA Claims Insider, a company that deceptively charged veterans fees for VA benefits assistance .
What is Talarico’s position on the VA?
Common Defense, a veteran-led organization endorsing Talarico, stated he is “willing to stand up to conservative efforts to privatize the VA” and ensure veterans have access to healthcare, housing, and job training .
Why did Paxton sue VA Claims Insider?
Paxton’s office sued VA Claims Insider for posing as a legitimate veterans’ assistance organization, deceptively charging disabled veterans fees, misrepresenting services as “free,” and pursuing aggressive debt collection against veterans who refused to pay .
What does the SAVE Act do for veterans?
The Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act (SAVE Act) prohibits inappropriate medical relationships, requires written disclosures informing veterans of free options, mandates full disclosure of fees upfront, and offers interest-free, veteran-friendly payment plans . NAVR commended Paxton for enforcing these principles in Texas .
Who is leading in the Texas Senate polls?
Recent polls show the race is a statistical tie. An Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey (Aug 9-10) showed Paxton at 47% and Talarico at 46% . The margin is within the poll’s 3% margin of error.
Has President Trump endorsed anyone in this race?
Yes. President Trump endorsed Ken Paxton ahead of the May 2026 Republican primary runoff against Sen. John Cornyn .
Why haven’t some Texas Republicans endorsed Paxton?
Six Texas Republican House members have not endorsed Paxton. His campaign has not provided specific explanations, but Talarico’s campaign has noted that many Republicans voted to impeach Paxton in the Texas House .
When is the election?
The Texas U.S. Senate general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting runs October 19-30, 2026Â .
Key Takeaways
The 2026 Texas U.S. Senate race is a statistical dead heat between Ken Paxton (R) and James Talarico (D), with Paxton at 47% and Talarico at 46% .
Paxton secured over $6.8 million in debt relief for disabled veterans who were scammed by VA Claims Insider, a fraudulent VA assistance company .
Talarico has been endorsed by Common Defense, a veteran-led grassroots organization, and has released a veterans policy platform .
Neither candidate is a veteran, though Paxton’s father served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force .
President Trump has endorsed Paxton, and 18 of 24 Texas Republican House members have backed him .
Talarico has spent significantly more on advertising ($21 million vs. Paxton’s $100,000 since the runoff) .
Six Texas Republican House members—including Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Chip Roy—have not yet endorsed Paxton .
The race could determine control of the U.S. Senate, making it one of the most closely watched midterm battles .
Voters under 50 favor Talarico by 15 points, while voters over 50 favor Paxton by 11 points .
Veterans should check their voter registration by October 5, 2026, and vote in the November 3 election .
Official Resources
Voter Information
Texas Secretary of State:Â www.sos.texas.gov
National Voter Registration:Â www.nass.org/can-I-vote
Candidates (for information purposes only)
Ken Paxton for Senate:Â www.kenpaxton.com
James Talarico for Senate:Â www.talarico.com
Veterans Organizations
Common Defense:Â www.commondefense.us
National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR):Â www.navr.us
Texas Veterans Commission:Â www.tvc.texas.gov
VA Resources
VA Benefits:Â www.va.gov
VA Benefits Hotline:Â 800-827-1000
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