Ken Paxton
Republican
Texas Attorney General since 2015
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U.S. Senate · Nov 3, 2026
Open seat. Held by John Cornyn, who is not running.
Open seat: incumbent John Cornyn lost the May 26 Republican runoff to Ken Paxton; four declared write-in candidates are not printed on the ballot and are not listed here.
Texas Attorney General since 2015
Texas state representative since 2018; former middle school teacher
Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2024
What each candidate says they support or would do, on the issues they campaign on. Summaries use the same neutral words for everyone and link to the candidate’s own words.
Researched with AI and confirmed by a second, independent AI check. Our editors haven’t reviewed it yet. How we verify
RepublicanKen Paxton
Says he would fight to cut taxes and stop wasteful spending, citing a national debt of more than $36 trillion, and would support President Trump's economic agenda.
DemocraticJames Talarico
Supports a middle-class tax cut through larger Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, paid for with higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations, including a higher corporate rate; would repeal the Trump tariffs.
LibertarianTed Brown
Would repeal the federal income tax and abolish the IRS without a replacement, combined with large spending cuts; says he will never vote to raise taxes.
“I will never vote to raise taxes.”
RepublicanKen Paxton
Says he would work with President Trump to take on large pharmaceutical and food companies and increase transparency in the food and health care systems.
DemocraticJames Talarico
Supports protecting the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, reversing cuts to ACA tax credits, capping out-of-pocket drug costs, regulating pharmacy benefit managers and canceling eligible medical debt.
LibertarianTed Brown
Supports making health care expenses tax-deductible and allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines and drugs from other countries.
RepublicanKen Paxton
Says he would help President Trump finish the border wall, secure the border and deport immigrants who are in the country illegally.
DemocraticJames Talarico
Supports comprehensive immigration reform with more Border Patrol agents, a path to citizenship for long-term residents, spouses and DREAMers, more immigration judges, and a ban on ICE agents wearing masks.
LibertarianTed Brown
Supports abolishing ICE, ending immigration checkpoints and raids, and an Ellis Island-style system that admits foreigners after criminal-record and disease checks and lets them work from their first day.
RepublicanKen Paxton
Supports parental rights, and opposes transgender athletes competing in girls' sports and what he calls woke indoctrination in classrooms.
DemocraticJames Talarico
Opposes private school vouchers; would keep public money in public schools, hire more teachers, raise teacher pay and establish universal Pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds.
LibertarianTed Brown
Would abolish the federal Department of Education, and supports charter schools and homeschooling.
RepublicanKen Paxton
Supports a foreign policy that prioritizes U.S. interests and the safety of American citizens, and criticizes sending billions of dollars to foreign countries.
DemocraticJames Talarico
Would work to end the war in Iran while keeping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon; supports standing with allies and restoring funding for diplomacy and international development.
LibertarianTed Brown
Would bring all troops home from foreign assignments, end foreign military interventions and all foreign aid, and withdraw from NATO.
RepublicanKen Paxton
Says he would protect gun rights under the Second Amendment.
DemocraticJames Talarico
No published position found.
LibertarianTed Brown
Supports repealing existing gun control laws, protecting concealed carry rights and ending gun-free zones.
RepublicanKen Paxton
Says he would oppose abortion alongside President Trump.
DemocraticJames Talarico
Supports codifying Roe v. Wade and protecting access to contraception and IVF.
LibertarianTed Brown
No published position found.
RepublicanKen Paxton
Says he would remove regulations on energy companies that he says are designed to hurt them, as part of bringing down costs.
DemocraticJames Talarico
Supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy including oil, gas, wind, solar and geothermal; would weatherproof the grid, reinstate renewable energy tax credits and require AI data centers to pay for the grid upgrades they need.
LibertarianTed Brown
No published position found.
RepublicanKen Paxton
No published position found.
DemocraticJames Talarico
Supports banning super PACs and corporate PACs, banning stock trading by members of Congress, eliminating presidential pardons, and term limits and a binding code of conduct for Supreme Court justices.
LibertarianTed Brown
No published position found.
RepublicanKen Paxton
No published position found.
DemocraticJames Talarico
No published position found.
LibertarianTed Brown
Supports ending the war on drugs starting with marijuana, and ending asset forfeiture, mandatory minimum sentences, no-knock warrants and qualified immunity for police.
RepublicanKen Paxton
No published position found.
DemocraticJames Talarico
No published position found.
LibertarianTed Brown
Opposes government-mandated age verification and digital ID, internet censorship and limits on VPNs, and opposes government surveillance, including Flock and other CCTV cameras in public places.