Texas showdown: 12 claims involving Talarico and Paxton, fact-checked

The U.S. Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton in Texas has garnered national attention, prompting numerous rumors about the candidates. Published Oct. 31, 2026 In the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections, Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico appeared to narrowly lead the polls in his race for U.S. Senate against Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton. If Talarico is successful, he'll become the first Democrat to win a statewide election in Texas in more than 30 years, The Associated Press reported. The race has garnered national attention as Democrats and Republicans fight for control of Congress — prompting numerous rumors about Talarico, a former teacher and the grandson of a preacher, and Paxton, who was indicted on securities fraud charges (the case was dismissed after he paid restitution) and impeached for alleged abuse of office (the Texas Senate acquitted him). The claims range from alleged details about the candidates' personal lives and purported statements they've made to their records as elected officials. Here are 12 rumors involving Talarico and Paxton that Snopes has examined over the years: Sources Epstein, Reid J., and J. David Goodman. 'How James Talarico's Years Teaching Middle School Prepared Him for Politics'. The New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026, www.nytimes.com/2026/10/28/us/politics/talarico-texas-senate-teacher.html. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.'Impeachment of Ken Paxton, 2023'. Ballotpedia, 2023, ballotpedia.org/Impeachment_of_Ken_Paxton,_2023. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.James Talarico. PawPaw. YouTube, 2026, www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2laitYVITo. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026, Video.'Texas U.S. Senate Election 2026: Latest Polls'. The New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026, www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/texas-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.WEBER, PAUL J. 'How the Criminal Case Against Texas AG Ken Paxton Abruptly Ended After Nearly a Decade of Delays'. AP News, 26 Mar. 2024, apnews.com/article/paxton-indictment-texas-d5e57fc6cd062c995ced91e9d2542199. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026. By Anna Rascouët-Paz Anna Rascouët-Paz is based in Brooklyn, fluent in numerous languages and specializes in science and economic topics. Got tips? Reach out to her on Signal at rascouetsnopes.41 or via email at anna@snopes.com. Article Tags