Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton used the national Republican convention stage Wednesday to make the case for his U.S. Senate campaign, touting his economic agenda, praising President Donald Trump and warning Republicans about the stakes of his race against Democrat James Talarico.
Speaking at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, Paxton focused much of his roughly six-minute address on affordability and the financial pressures facing Texas families. The Republican Senate nominee portrayed himself as a defender of the American Dream while drawing a sharp contrast with Talarico, the Democratic state representative challenging him for the seat being vacated by Sen. John Cornyn.
“Everywhere I go, I meet Texans working harder than ever but still worried that they will never get ahead,” Paxton said. “Those are the people that I’m fighting for. And I want every Texan to be able to buy a home, raise their family and live a healthy life.”
Paxton also used the appearance to praise Trump, saying the president has “delivered more for this country than anyone before.”
The attorney general then highlighted pieces of the economic plan he has been promoting on the campaign trail. His proposals include new tax deductions for medical expenses and healthy-lifestyle costs, along with deductions aimed at homebuyers. He has also proposed making Trump investment accounts for children permanent and doubling the federal child tax credit.
Paxton quickly shifted from his own agenda to attacking Talarico, labeling his opponent a “democratic socialist” and accusing him of supporting higher taxes.
Talarico is not a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. His own tax proposals call for higher taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans while expanding tax credits aimed at parents and lower-income workers.
The attacks come as the two candidates battle in what has become a closely watched Senate contest. Recent public polling has shown a competitive race, while Talarico has built a significant fundraising advantage.
Talarico raised more than $30 million during the second quarter of 2026, more than triple the $9 million-plus raised by Paxton during the same period. Paxton's haul was nevertheless a personal fundraising record for his campaign.
Paxton acknowledged that financial gap during his convention speech.
“He is the most radical Democrat in Texas history, but he’s also the most well-funded,” Paxton said. “And that’s why today I need your prayers, your votes and your support.”
Paxton also framed the Texas race as having consequences well beyond the state as he made his appeal to Republicans gathered in Dallas.
“If we lose Texas, we lose the common-sense revolution. If we lose the common-sense revolution, we lose America,” Paxton said.
The race has attracted increased national attention as Republicans work to hold a Senate seat they have controlled for decades. National Republicans have rallied behind Paxton following his victory over Cornyn in the GOP primary runoff, while Democrats see the open seat as a potential opportunity to make gains in a state where they have not won a U.S. Senate election since 1988.
