Ken Paxton criticised over luxury attire on Texas campaign trail
Republican Ken Paxton, locked in an unexpectedly tight US Senate race in Texas, has drawn criticism after being photographed wearing a Four Seasons Orlando golf shirt and a luxury watch worth roughly £30,000 while campaigning in San Antonio. The moment has proved awkward given the affordability concerns dominating the race, with Democratic rival James Talarico seizing on the imagery to contrast his own modest finances with Paxton's multimillion-pound net worth.
Paxton, 63, has a declared net worth of between £10 million and £21 million, compared with Talarico's £12,000 to £39,000, and the pair are separated by just a few points in recent polling, with one survey putting Paxton behind 42% to 48%. Paxton has defended his wealth as the product of a successful legal career, while some fellow Republicans have voiced concern over funding for his campaign to hold a seat Democrats have not won in over three decades; he previously survived an impeachment trial and has faced allegations of adultery amid a divorce.
- Paxton photographed in luxury watch and Four Seasons shirt on campaign trail
- Rival Talarico mocks the look amid affordability-crisis messaging
- Polling shows tight Texas Senate race, with some GOP concern over funding
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Texas is a reliably Republican state, and its US Senate seat has been held by Republicans for more than 30 years. A Senate race decides who represents the state in the upper chamber of Congress, where lawmakers vote on national laws and confirm senior government appointments.
Ken Paxton is Texas’s Republican attorney general, the state’s chief legal officer, and James Talarico is a Democratic state legislator. Their close contest has brought attention to the candidates’ finances as voters focus on the cost of living.
Paxton has said his wealth comes from his legal career. His political record has also drawn scrutiny, including an impeachment trial in which he was acquitted; those issues form part of the wider context around his campaign.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Critics can argue that visible luxury sits uneasily with a campaign centred on affordability, and that voters are entitled to question whether a candidate understands the financial pressures they face. In a close race, Paxton’s wealth and choice of attire may reasonably become part of assessing his judgement and political priorities.
The case against
Paxton’s supporters can argue that personal wealth, earned through a legal career, does not by itself show that he lacks concern for ordinary voters or cannot represent them. A golf shirt and watch are limited evidence of his policy commitments, and focusing on them risks substituting impressions about personal style for scrutiny of his proposals and record.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Embattled Republican Ken Paxton makes embarrassing Four Seasons gaffe while campaigning in Texas”.