Link: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2026/08/25/texas-senate-race-transgender-issues

As he runs for U.S. Senate in Texas, state Attorney General Ken Paxton is seizing on a familiar strategy from the Republican playbook. He is attacking his Democratic opponent, state Rep. James Talarico, for his positions on transgender rights.

In a recent campaign ad, Paxton is critical of Talarico’s past statements, including one where Talarico said, “I have a special place in my heart for LGBTQ youth.”

On social media, Paxton wrote, “He is willing to sacrifice our children at the altar of the radical trans movement. Talarico is too weird and too radical for Texas.”

Paxton later posted a picture with his daughter at a basketball game, writing, “As a dad of female athletes I’ll fight to keep men out of women’s sports.”

The line of attack echoes Republican Sen. Ted Cruz’s strategy in his successful reelection campaign against then U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, two years ago.