James Talarico Endorsed by Attorney Accusing Opponent Ken Paxton of Theft
The endorsement comes as the race remains close, with recent polls showing Talarico and Paxton trading narrow leads.
James Talarico, a Democratic state Representative, has received the backing of Joe Joplin, a lawyer who once alleged that his Republican rival, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, stole a $1,000 Montblanc pen from a courthouse in Collin County over a decade ago. This endorsement comes as the two politicians engage in one of the most closely contested Senate races in the 2026 midterms, a contest that could decide which party controls the chamber.
Although Texas has not elected a Democrat to a statewide office in more than three decades, recent polls indicate Talarico and Paxton are in a dead heat, with some surveys suggesting a tie or a slight edge for the Democrat, and prediction markets indicating a growing probability of Talarico's victory. The pen incident has become a symbol of Paxton's legal troubles, including a 2015 securities fraud conviction and allegations of mishandling a child sexual abuse case.
Talarico's campaign released a video featuring Joplin presenting his endorsement directly to viewers. The endorsement underscores the contrast between the two candidates, with Talarico's campaign spokesperson stating, "Ken Paxton is the kind of guy who steals your pen. James Talarico is the kind of guy who'd let you borrow his."
The pen has resurfaced in Paxton's campaigns before, with Democratic attorney Justin Nelson using surveillance footage against him in a 2018 ad and Republican George P. Bush employing it in billboards during his primary bid against Paxton. Talarico's campaign is now selling "Not Ken Paxton's Pen" as a fundraising item, along with other satirical merchandise, such as a T-shirt reading "I'm a Talafreako."
The endorsement arrives amid a tight race, with recent polls showing the candidates trading narrow leads. The latest Emerson College/Nexstar survey, conducted August 9-10 among 1,000 likely voters, found the candidates at 47% and 46%, respectively, with a 3% margin of error. Despite Talarico's recent polling gains, political scientist Calvin Jillson of Southern Methodist University cautioned that a Democrat has not won a statewide race in Texas in over three decades.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
