Texas voters who supported President Donald Trump in 2024 had unusually harsh assessments of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, whose campaign is struggling to maintain its footing.
In a New York Times Opinion focus group involving 12 Trump voters, participants described Paxton as a “crook,” “criminal,” “crooked,” “amoral,” “disgusting” and “corrupt.”
One Republican voter offered an especially blunt summary: “Womanizer. Crook.”
For several participants, the problem was not the Republican Party or its policies. It was Paxton personally.
When asked what could make the Texas Senate race different from earlier Democratic efforts to win statewide office, one conservative-leaning voter had an immediate response: “One word: Paxton.”
“They picked the wrong candidate. It’s him. If they picked anybody else, they would have won,” the voter said.
Another participant said Republican Senator John Cornyn would have defeated Democrat James Talarico, arguing that a Cornyn victory would have come “hands down.”
The wave of negative reactions adds to the growing list of setbacks facing Paxton, who increasingly appears to be an underdog in his effort to keep the deeply conservative Texas Senate seat in Republican hands.
In a New York Times Opinion focus group, 12 Trump voters used words including “crook,” “criminal,” “crooked,” “amoral,” “disgusting” and “corrupt” to describe Paxton.
Some voters weighing a vote for Talarico are not necessarily embracing the Democratic Party; they simply do not want Paxton.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his mistress, Tracy Duhon, were spotted traveling to Iceland while Paxton was campaigning to become the Lone Star State’s next Republican senator.
Texas political operatives have begun preparing for the possibility of a Talarico victory.
“It’s going to take a Herculean effort to hold the seat,” a GOP operative told Politico’s Playbook.
“The Monday morning quarterbacking is going to be biblical.”
“The hand-wringing and the blaming. Paxton will blame Cornyn. Trump will blame Paxton. Trump should blame himself.”
Some voters considering Talarico are not necessarily endorsing the Democratic Party. Their motivation, instead, is opposition to Paxton.
Seven of the 12 participants in the Times focus group said they would have preferred Cornyn to Talarico if Cornyn had secured the Republican nomination.
Still, Talarico did not receive unanimous support.
Some voters praised the Democrat as “fresh,” “young,” “new” and “inspiring.” Others, however, criticized his positions on social issues.
One participant linked him to disputes over same-sex bathrooms in schools, while another dismissed him as “ineffective.”
One participant said they disagreed with Talarico’s religious and social views and disliked what they saw as an emphasis on his personal morals rather than policy.
But the Paxton factor remained decisive for some.
‘I will not vote for Paxton,’ one Republican voter said, describing the choice as ‘horrible turmoil’ because of opposition to Talarico’s views but an unwillingness to support the Republican nominee.
Another participant praised Talarico for appearing to avoid the negativity and finger-pointing that has come to dominate politics.
‘He’s actually trying to come up with solutions,’ the voter said, describing him as a kind of ‘fresh air.’
Yet the same voter made clear that this was not necessarily a conversion to the Democratic Party.
‘There’s nothing wrong with Cornyn,’ the voter said. ‘If it was Cornyn versus him, I would be with Cornyn.’
Instead, with Talarico facing Paxton, the voter said: ‘I will be voting for Talarico.’
This week, Talarico proposed a Fox News debate moderated by Bret Baier, declaring he was willing to take the fight onto Paxton’s ‘home turf.’
While some Texas Republicans and independents may be on the fence about Paxton, he still has plenty of support within the state’s Republican ranks.
Paxton entered the race with plenty of baggage that was hard to ignore.
He was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023 over allegations including abuse of office and improper dealings involving a wealthy donor, though he was later acquitted by the Texas Senate.
He’s also faced a long-running securities-fraud case that ended without a conviction.
And his personal life has also made headlines.
His wife filed for divorce in 2025 and accused him of adultery, an affair Paxton had previously acknowledged.
He has denied wrongdoing in the various allegations against him.
And despite all of that, Trump hasn’t backed away from Paxton.
Trump endorsed him in the Republican runoff and has continued to throw his support behind him, even saying he plans to return to Texas to campaign for him ahead of November’s election.
So while some voters may be questioning Paxton, he isn’t exactly standing alone.
Talarico is edging ahead of Ken Paxton in the latest Texas Senate polling, adding fresh fuel to an increasingly competitive race in the Lone Star State.
A Texas Southern University poll of 1,800 likely voters puts the Democratic congressman at 47 percent, narrowly ahead of Republican Paxton at 46 percent, with Libertarian Ted Brown on 3 percent and 4 percent undecided.
