Talarico faces voters, but not Paxton, in CNN town hall
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James Talarico at a rally in Houston. Photo: Ronaldo Scemidt / AFP via Getty Images
Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico made his case to voters for 90 minutes Wednesday night in a CNN and Jubilee town hall.
Why it matters: The event — often a dialogue with voters — amounted to free national airtime for Talarico amid an advertising blitz by his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton, who was invited but did not participate.
The big picture: The unconventional format brought together Republican, Democratic and independent voters to question Talarico on affordability, democracy, education, health care and immigration.
- The questions gave Talarico opportunities to clarify past comments featured in Republican attack ads, explain his positions on contentious issues and find common ground with the voters.
What they're saying: "I don't want people to vote just against Ken Paxton. I want them to vote for me. I want them to know my values and my vision," Talarico said near the end of the town hall, broadcast from Fort Worth.
- "This election is not about left versus right. It's about whether we will have a senator who puts money in your pocket or a senator who puts money in their own," he added in his only direct mention of his opponent.
Zoom in: He staked moderate positions on some issues, underscoring his strategy to appeal to independents and some Republicans, while drawing on his Christian faith to explain his views in one-on-one conversation with voters.
- He backed oil and gas alongside renewable energy and clarified past criticism of capitalism, saying he opposed "crony capitalism."
- He said he does not support abolishing ICE but criticized the agency's enforcement tactics, invoking the fatal shooting of Houston resident Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.
Follow the money: More than $500 million has been spent on television ads in the race, according to AdImpact data cited by CNN.
- Republicans have poured money into boosting Paxton, including $131 million spent by a GOP-aligned PAC in just 17 days last month.
- But Talarico continues to hold a narrow lead in recent polls, within the margin of error.
The intrigue: Talarico's election campaign hosted watch parties in major Texas cities under the banner "This Could've Been a Debate."
- Paxton has yet to accept any of at least four debate invitations, despite his campaign saying in July that he would debate.
The other side: Paxton's campaign did not respond to Axios' request for comment but announced an 18-day "Come and Take It" bus tour across Texas.
The bottom line: Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control of the chamber, and Texas has emerged as an unlikely battleground.