HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — Texas state Representative James Talarico, the Democratic Senate candidate, is adopting his Republican opponent’s tactics to push for a debate.
State Attorney General Ken Paxton has mocked Talarico’s week-long absence, calling for “proof of life” as the Democrat battled what he called a bout with the flu. Talarico renewed his requests for a debate Saturday with the same type of language.
“I challenged Ken Paxton to a debate 85 days ago, but no one has heard from him. People are getting worried,” Talarico said on X. “I’ve received credible reports he’s suffering from a rare condition that causes clinical levels of cowardice. @KenPaxtonTX: I am asking for proof of ability to debate.”
The National News Desk requested comment from Paxton but hasn’t received a response. He’s been similarly silent on his willingness to participate in a debate, only hinting at his lack of interest.
“We’ve been working on that for months with him, and of course, we can never quite work out the details because he always wants something we can’t do,” Paxton told Fox News on Sunday.
The network has offered to host an event, as have CNN and a few local news stations. Even President Donald Trump, who pushed Paxton over the primary finish line, called for a debate last week, though he claimed Talarico has been the avoidant candidate.
Paxton has struggled to excite conservative voters and donors turned off by his legal baggage—he was charged with fraud in a since-dropped case and impeached by state Republicans—and Talarico has seized on his opponent’s ineffective messaging.
The Democrat’s contrasted his legislative record with Paxton’s courtroom history, an approach he could showcase on the debate stage.
“You shouldn’t believe anything a politician says, whether it’s me or Ken Paxton. You should look at what we’ve done,” Talarico told Fox News last month. “And if you look at Ken Paxton’s history, he has spent his entire career enriching himself on the public’s dime. I’ll put my record up against Ken Paxton’s every day of the week.”
Voters are so far leaning toward Talarico. He’s led the Republican in most polls over the past few months, including one recently run by the reputable bipartisan duo Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research.
Talarico, who holds a two-point lead in that survey, is liked by more than half of likely voters, while nearly six in 10 have a negative opinion of Paxton.
Do you have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.