<\/p>\n
Mayor Mattie Parker at the World Cup draw watch party last year in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n
Christine Vo\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
FORT WORTH \u2013 Mayor Mattie Parker <\/a>is breaking with her Republican Party to back Democrats in two statewide races. But in the marquee Senate race,<\/a> she still can\u2019t decide.<\/p>\n With Election Day approaching<\/a>, Parker says she is torn between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton<\/a> and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI disagree foundationally on several things about Ken Paxton, and I’m perplexed about several positions that James Talarico has taken,\u201d Parker said last week in a joint interview with The Dallas Morning News and NBC 5. \u201cI will ultimately vote in that election. I just haven’t voted yet and I don’t know yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Parker, a moderate Republican, shares the concerns of GOP voters wary of Paxton but not sold on Talarico. Where they land Nov. 3 could decide if the GOP keeps the seat or Texas elects its first Democratic U.S. senator since 1988.<\/p>\n Parker\u2019s willingness to cross party lines extends beyond the Senate race. She is supporting Democrats for attorney general and Railroad Commission but favors Republican Tim O\u2019Hare for Tarrant County judge, despite significant disagreements with him.<\/p>\n Fort Worth is the largest city in Tarrant County, long one of the nation\u2019s largest GOP strongholds. But the county has become a political battleground, with Democrats narrowly carrying it in several high-profile elections.<\/p>\n Democratic state Rep. James Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, rivals for the Senate.\u00a0<\/p>\n Smiley N. Pool Steve Hamm\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Both Paxton and Talarico campaigned last week in Fort Worth. Parker said she\u2019ll vote for the candidate who best reflects her values and serves Tarrant County.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s obvious that Representative Talarico has a tremendous voter base and enthusiasm is on his side,\u201d Parker said. \u201cI would say that Attorney General Paxton has had a different campaign strategy, and is maybe trying to navigate a split Republican Party.\u201d<\/p>\n She said \u201cintegrity matters\u201d and was contemplating \u201cwhat leadership looks like\u201d with both candidates. Parker said she is also concerned about Talarico\u2019s legislative record and past positions, though she did not elaborate.\u00a0<\/p>\n GOP family feud<\/p>\n Many moderates believe Sen. John Cornyn<\/a> would have been a stronger opponent for Talarico. But Paxton defeated Cornyn in a bitter primary fight that exposed deep divisions between Trump-aligned conservatives and more traditional Republicans.<\/p>\n Parker said she was a \u201cfull supporter” of Cornyn in the primary and considers him the better model for senator.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted a statesman to represent the state of Texas,\u201d she said. \u201cI don’t necessarily see that replacement from either candidate that’s currently running for U.S. Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n Other prominent Republicans are supporting Talarico, including members of former President George W. Bush\u2019s family. His daughter, Barbara, donated $2,500 to a super PAC supporting his campaign, and Bush\u2019s brother, Neil, said he voted early for the Democrat, saying he had \u201cdeep concern” about Paxton\u2019s record and “genuine admiration for the character and principles I see in James Talarico.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Paxton\u2019s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n Former Republican U.S. Rep. Alan Steelman, another Talarico backer<\/a>, took a jab at Paxton at a recent Plano rally.<\/p>\n \u201cIn spite of all the talk about draining the swamp, you’re sending another gator to the swamp,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Others in the GOP are seeking party unity. State Rep. Matt Shaheen,<\/a> R-Prosper, who supported Cornyn in the primary, urged reluctant Republicans to vote for Paxton.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you run across some conservative that just ain’t into it and all that kind of stuff, say \u2018suck it up, Buttercup, and get out and vote,\u2019\u201d he said at an Allen campaign event.\u00a0<\/p>\n \nNo to Bo\u00a0\n<\/p>\n The candidates for Texas Railroad Commisison, former Tarrant County GOP chairman Bo French, left, and Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal of Houston.\u00a0<\/p>\n File Photo and Jon Rosenthal<\/p>\n Though undecided in the Senate race, Parker has made her choices in three other contests, crossing party lines in two:<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Texas Railroad Commission: Parker supports Democrat Jon Rosenthal over Republican Bo French<\/a>, a former Tarrant County GOP chairman criticized for social media posts, including one disparaging the racial makeup of students<\/a> celebrating a University of Texas football victory. \u201cI will not vote for Bo French,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Attorney general: She favors state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, over state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, citing their work together. \u201cNo disrespect to Mayes Middleton, I just haven\u2019t worked with him as much,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Tarrant County judge: Parker supports O\u2019Hare, the GOP incumbent over Democratic County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, despite disagreements with O\u2019Hare over redistricting and polling places.<\/p>\n Tarrant County Judge Tim O\u2019Hare at a Commissioners Court meeting Feb. 10 in Fort Worth. He faces Democrat Commissioner Alisa Simmons in the November election.<\/p>\n Maria Crane\/Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n Parker said she votes for candidates, not parties, and hopes moderates will reject extremes on both sides.<\/p>\n Parker, who is undecided about seeking reelection in 2027, said she isn\u2019t worried that supporting Democrats could hurt her chances of winning a Republican primary for higher office.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Mayor Mattie Parker in April at Tarleton State University’s Fort Worth campus.<\/p>\n El\u00edas Valverde II\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not hedging against my future or for my future\u2026.That’s just exhausting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Parker said her priority is being honest with voters, even if they disagree with her choices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mayor Mattie Parker at the World Cup draw watch party last year in Fort Worth. 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