Yes
I do.
No
I don’t.
The battle for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas is becoming one of the country’s most closely watched political contests, and allegations of corruption are taking center stage.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has made attacks on Republican nominee Ken Paxton a central component of his campaign.
Talarico has described Paxton as the “most corrupt politician in America” and has attempted to portray the Republican as part of a larger political system that he says benefits powerful insiders at the expense of ordinary voters.
Paxton and his supporters strongly dispute that characterization.
Paxton has faced years of political and legal controversy, including impeachment by the Texas House in 2023. The Texas Senate subsequently acquitted him. A federal investigation also ended without prosecution, and Paxton has maintained political support among many Texas conservatives.
More recently, Talarico accused Paxton of improperly voting from an address where he allegedly no longer lived. The accusation followed reporting by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune examining Paxton’s voter registration. The allegation has added another contentious issue to an already heated Senate campaign.
President Donald Trump is also becoming an important part of the contest. Trump endorsed Paxton during the Republican primary, helping cement Paxton’s standing with MAGA voters.
Talarico’s broader campaign message seeks to connect his criticism of Paxton to concerns about political influence and corruption. Republicans have responded by arguing that the Democrat is recycling allegations against Paxton while ignoring his conservative record and previous legal victories.
That leaves Texas voters—and Americans watching the race—with sharply different interpretations of the candidates and the accusations being made.
The outcome could have national consequences because control of the U.S. Senate may ultimately depend on a handful of competitive races, including Texas.
So where do you stand?