Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton brought his campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to downtown Amarillo on Thursday, speaking to supporters and local media during a public meet-and-greet event at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Amarillo Downtown.
Paxton, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the May 26 GOP runoff election, used the stop to emphasize his ties to the Texas Panhandle and outline how he would represent West Texas if elected to the Senate. The winner of the Republican runoff could later face Democratic State Representative James Talarico in the November general election.
Early voting for the runoff election and other elections statewide begins May 18.
During remarks to attendees, Paxton highlighted his work as attorney general and pointed to ongoing legal action involving the Panhandle wildfires as an example of his commitment to the region.
“I am already very involved in the Panhandle right here, suing Xcel over the wildfires,” Paxton said. “We are going to hold them accountable. That’s evidence, just the most recent evidence of the type of things I would do as a Senator. Obviously, I can’t sue, I’m operating in a different capacity, but I’ll be out here trying to find out what the people of West Texas want—not sitting in Washington, hoping that I’ll never find out.”
The lawsuit referenced by Paxton stems from devastating wildfires that swept through portions of the Texas Panhandle earlier this year, causing widespread damage to ranchland, homes, and infrastructure. The fires renewed discussions about utility accountability and emergency preparedness across rural communities in West Texas.
Following his speech, Paxton took questions from local reporters about the direction of the Senate race and how his leadership would differ from potential opponents.
When asked about a possible matchup against Talarico in the general election, Paxton sharply contrasted his platform with what he described as more liberal political views.
“His views are not matching with what Texas cares about and we are going to show that in the campaign,” Paxton said. “His views are — maybe from California — I call him the guy from California. His views match Californians’ views, or maybe New York, or maybe Illinois, or maybe Massachusetts. They do not match the views of Texans. That is what this campaign will show that he is not a true Texan in the sense that his values do not match our values.”
The Senate race is expected to draw significant national attention as Republicans and Democrats both look to shape the future political landscape in Texas, a state that has remained reliably Republican in statewide races but has seen increasingly competitive elections in recent years.
Paxton also used his Amarillo appearance to praise the political influence of the Panhandle, describing the region as a key voice in determining statewide leadership.
“I love the Panhandle, I love the people of the Panhandle,” Paxton said. “I think they make a difference for our state. I think they have a major impact on what type of leadership that we’re gonna have in the state, and I’m grateful for their support.”
Supporters attending the event gathered to hear Paxton discuss border security, conservative policy priorities, and the importance of voter turnout ahead of the runoff election. The event was open to the public and served as one of several campaign stops across Texas as candidates intensify outreach efforts in the final weeks before voting begins.
