Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico don’t agree on much. But on that most Texas of obsessions, football, the Senate contenders are on the same team: both are Dallas Cowboys fans.
They have a fondness for Lone Star history, too, and a love for homegrown country singers. Beyond that, they often go their separate ways.
Even on the lighter stuff, political caution can creep in. Ask them where Texans eat best, and suddenly a simple answer isn’t so simple.
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Still, there’s more to a candidate than ads, policies and attacks.
Attorney General Ken Paxton and state Rep. James Talarico, rivals for the Senate.
The Dallas Morning News
As voters mull their choices ahead of the November election, The Dallas Morning News asked Paxton, the attorney general, and Talarico, a state representative from Austin, about their interests away from the campaign trail.
Combined with responses in other interviews, their picks ranged from sports and movies to music and books. Here’s the rundown:
Most iconic Texan of all time?
Sam Houston, left, the Texas Revolution hero and first elected president of the Republic of Texas. Former President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Texas-born architect of the Great Society and landmark civil rights legislation.
Paxton: Davy Crockett or Sam Houston. “One died defending the Alamo, and the other led the Texan army to victory at San Jacinto. Both taught me never to stop fighting for Texas and America.”
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Can you match these Texas favorites to Texas Senate candidates?
Azul Sordo Ortiz Hernan, The Dallas Morning News
Talarico: President Lyndon B. Johnson. “LBJ has a lot to teach us in this moment. He was able to marry two things that are kind of pitted against each other in our politics. One is a bold imagination for what’s possible, and a practical politics of winning, of making it happen. … LBJ showed us that you can bring those two things together to transform the country.”
Personal pet peeve?
Paxton: “As a lawyer, improper grammar will always be my biggest pet peeve.”
Talarico: “Movie trailers are too long. … I mean the trailers themselves, they are giving away the entire plot of the movie. Like you watch the trailer, and you’re like, I just saw the movie.”
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Texas city with the best food?
Paxton: “Every city has great food, but if I had to pick one, it would be Dallas–Fort Worth. You can get world-class brisket, great Tex-Mex and a good chicken-fried steak within a 20-minute drive.”
Talarico: “My first scandal in this campaign was the very first week…I was asked by a reporter which Texas city had the best food? I didn’t say my hometown of Austin. I didn’t say San Antonio, where I taught school. I didn’t say Dallas-Fort Worth. I said the city of Houston. … I’ve learned my lesson, and my answer is pass.”
Barbecue or Tex-Mex?
Paxton: “Barbecue – but give me Tex-Mex in South Texas, and I might change my answer.”
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Talarico: “It’s a false choice. Put those two things together, barbacoa.”
Favorite Texas sports moment?
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, left, in 1974. Longhorns quarterback Vince Young after the University of Texas won the national championship over USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
Paxton: Quarterback Roger Staubach’s Hail Mary pass against Minnesota in the 1975 playoffs. “He gave the play its name, and Cowboys fans have been praying ever since.”
Talarico: The Longhorns quarterback Vince Young, running for the game-winning touchdown that gave the University of Texas the national championship over USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
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Cowboys or Texans?
Paxton: “Cowboys. I’ve lived through a lot of heartbreak, but I’m a believer.”
Talarico: “This is where I make it up to Dallas-Fort Worth. I grew up and remain a big Dallas Cowboys fan.”
Mavs or Spurs?
Former Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, left, and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan.
Paxton: “Mavs, even if they’ve made a few trades I’d rather forget.”
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Talarico: San Antonio Spurs. Hall of Famer Tim Duncan is his favorite player of all time, he said at a Spurs watch party.
Favorite Texas movie?
John Wayne, left, stars as Davy Crockett in the 1960 movie “The Alamo.” James Dean as petroleum worker Jett Rink in the 1956 movie “Giant.”
Paxton: The Alamo, the 1960 version with John Wayne. “It’s a classic about standing your ground for freedom.”
Talarico: Giant. “Great movie, long movie, back when movies had intermissions, which I think we should bring back.”
Favorite book?
Paxton: The Bible. “It’s the book I read most and the one I turn to for strength, wisdom and guidance. No book has gotten me through more.”
Talarico: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. “Texas has gotten a bad rap given the extremism and the corruption people have seen coming out of our state. But if you wanna know what Texas is all about, friendship and individualism and freedom and community, adventure, innovation, like all of that is in this one story”
Favorite musician?
Tenor Andrea Bocelli, left, on stage in 2016 in Austin. Willie Nelson performs in 2017 at Dallas’ Granada Theater.
Paxton: “George Strait or Andrea Bocelli, depending what the day calls for.”
Favorite song?
Porter Howell of Little Texas, left, at a 2010 concert in Alabama. Kacey Musgraves at a 2013 festival in Tennessee.
Paxton: “God Blessed Texas” by Little Texas.
Talarico: Kacey Musgraves’ “Merry Go ‘Round.”