Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico took direct questions from Texas voters Wednesday night at a CNN and Jubilee town hall in Fort Worth, defending his positions on abortion, immigration, energy and corruption while Republican opponent Ken Paxton stayed away.
The 90-minute event, moderated by CNN anchor Erin Burnett, drew a mixed audience of Democrats, Republicans and independents. Talarico, a state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, repeatedly said he would break with his own party when it benefits Texas and framed the race as a contest between everyday Texans and powerful interests.
In one exchange, Talarico told a Catholic voter that the Bible is silent on abortion and that people of faith can reach different conclusions. He said both sides could still unite around reducing unplanned pregnancies and abortions by treating the issue as a public-health matter rather than a culture-war fight. The voter disagreed, citing the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.”
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appealed face-to-face to skeptical Republicans and independents in a joint town hall hosted by CNN and Jubilee, framing the election in populist terms and insisting he is willing to break with his own party if doing so benefits the state. Here are takeaways from Talarico's town hall: https://t.co/0OJJ3zDZIG
— CNN (@CNN) October 15, 2026
Talarico also called himself a “border security Democrat,” criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border, and said he does not support abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He described some recent federal operations as a “secret police force.” On energy, he pledged an all-of-the-above approach that protects oil and gas jobs while expanding renewables, saying he would stand up to either party that threatened those priorities.
Near the end, Talarico said he did not want people to vote solely against Paxton. He then called the attorney general “the most corrupt politician in Texas,” citing claims about increases in net worth and home ownership, and framed the choice as one between a senator who puts money in voters’ pockets or one who puts it in his own, according to The Dallas Morning News. CNN reported that Paxton was invited to the town hall but did not attend; the invitation remains open.
Paxton’s campaign announced an 18-day “Come and Take It” bus tour beginning Saturday in Rockwall and ending at the Alamo on Election Day. Early voting in Texas starts Monday. The race is rated a toss-up, with a Democratic win potentially helping the party gain the Senate majority.
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