# Voters Pick James Talarico To Mess with Texas—and the U.S. Senate

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/voters-pick-james-talarico-to-mess-with-texas-and-the-u-s-senate/
- Published: 2026-11-04T04:48:07+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T05:37:41+00:00
- Original publisher: Reason (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://reason.com/2026/11/03/voters-pick-james-talarico-to-mess-with-texas-and-the-u-s-senate/
- Topics: Celebrity, Elections, Entertainment, Government, Politics

## Key points

- James Talarico won Texas’s US Senate race.
- The article criticises both major-party candidates.
- Libertarian Ted Brown and write-in candidates also ran.

## Summary

James Talarico won the Texas US Senate race, defeating Republican Ken Paxton in a contest the article portrays as a choice between two deeply flawed major-party candidates. The result matters because the author argues that the two-party system leaves voters with limited options, despite alternatives on the ballot.

The article criticises Talarico for past comments against capitalism and fossil fuels, his shift towards describing himself as a capitalist, and his attacks on billionaires despite receiving substantial support from wealthy donors. It questions Paxton’s ethics, citing a 2024 settlement of $300,000 in a securities fraud case, his impeachment and acquittal by the Texas Senate, and his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. It also notes that Libertarian Ted Brown and recognised write-in candidates offered alternatives.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.