Texas Senate Candidate Talarico Accuses Attorney General Paxton of Voter Fraud

Texas state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, is leveling serious allegations against incumbent Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, accusing him of voter fraud. Talarico's claim comes after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune revealed that Paxton may have voted illegally from an address where he no longer resides.

During a campaign event in Houston, Talarico said, "As our state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton has gone on a voter fraud witch hunt." He then accused Paxton of voting illegally at his former residence for six consecutive elections. Election experts consulted by the news organizations suggested that Paxton could have violated Texas law.

The Collin County Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Texas secretary of state's office last week, urging an investigation into potential election fraud committed by Paxton during these elections. However, when questioned about his voter registration and residency status at a press conference, Paxton declined to comment directly on the issue, instead focusing on law enforcement matters.

Paxton’s office has not responded to further inquiries from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune regarding Talarico's accusations or the complaint filed against him. This silence is particularly noteworthy given that voter fraud prevention is a key talking point for Paxton in his campaign.

Southern Methodist University political science professor Cal Jillson believes this new revelation could reinforce critics' longstanding claims of misuse of power by Paxton. In 2023, the Texas Legislature impeached Paxton on charges of bribery and corruption, though he was acquitted by the state Senate. The current allegations add another layer to these criticisms.

Texas law allows voters to temporarily cast ballots from an address where they do not reside if they intend to return there eventually. However, election lawyers suggest that given the context of Paxton's ongoing public divorce, it is unlikely he could argue his case under this provision.

The complaint filed against Paxton by the Collin County Democratic Party remains under review by a staff attorney at the secretary of state’s office. The new secretary of state, Robert Howden, was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott shortly after the filing and has not provided any public statement about the status or outcome of the investigation.

Political science professor Jon Taylor from the University of Texas at San Antonio views Paxton's silence as hypocritical given his campaign rhetoric on election security. "You push the idea that you’re going to be really tough on election wrongdoing, and yet here you are with allegations in which you seem to be uninterested in pursuing," Taylor commented.

The unfolding situation highlights the complexities of political accountability and the potential for conflicting interests within state government institutions when high-profile officials face accusations of misconduct.