Texas Trump voters describe Ken Paxton as “morally corrupt” and say he could cost Republicans the state

# What the voters said A New York Times conversation with 12 Texas voters who supported Donald Trump in 2024 found broad discomfort with Ken Paxton, the state attorney general and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. The group—identified only by first names—used blunt language to describe him: crook, criminal, amoral, morally corrupt, womanizer, disgusting, and controversial.

# Republican voters

Those incidents shape how voters think about his character. One participant said the GOP "picked the wrong candidate" and that Paxton's nomination risks costing Republicans the statewide race. Several brought up Sen. John Cornyn as a contrasting figure—saying that Cornyn would have been more electable against Talarico.

# Campaign tactics and the LGBTQ+ issue Participants described Paxton's recent strategy of attacking Talarico's gender presentation and emphasizing anti-LGBTQ+ positions. Paxton has led legal and political efforts targeting gender-affirming care for minors and policies that recognize transgender identities. His campaign messaging frames Talarico as out of step with Texas voters by focusing on gender and morality.

# Electoral consequences the voters foresee Several participants said they will either vote for Talarico or not vote in the race, arguing that Republicans made the seat more vulnerable by nominating Paxton. The group's responses suggest a real risk of erosion in GOP support among voters who backed Trump in 2024 but are put off by Paxton's controversies and campaign tone.

# What this means for the race These voter impressions, as captured by the NYT conversation, indicate a possible shift among swing voters and some traditional Republican voters. Paxton's legal history and aggressive anti-LGBTQ+ messaging are central to why these voters say they won't back him. That dynamic gives Talarico a path to competitiveness in a state where Democrats have not won a statewide Senate race in decades.

# Not all voters are convinced The conversation included dissenting views: some participants called Talarico ineffective or raised policy objections. A few said they would not vote for either candidate. The group's mix of reactions shows that while Paxton's problems are widely noted, voters weigh character, policy, and cultural messaging differently.

Overall, the conversation suggests the Senate race in Texas is being shaped less by traditional partisan loyalty than by voters' assessments of candidate character and campaign tone.