Ken Paxton’s Former Lawyer Endorses Democrat James Talarico

What This is

• Dan Cogdell, a Houston lawyer who defended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his 2023 impeachment trial, endorsed Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for U.S. Senate.
• Cogdell said his professional obligation to Paxton ended at the courthouse and that he is backing Talarico as a matter of civic duty.
• Cogdell said Paxton has become too focused on serving or appeasing President Donald Trump instead of representing Texans’ interests.
• Cogdell argued Texas leaders should focus more on issues like education and health care.
• Paxton was acquitted in the 2023 impeachment, and he later defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff with Trump’s support.
• Talarico’s campaign has highlighted Paxton’s legal controversies and is courting Republicans and independents as it tries to flip the seat.
• Talarico said he opposes gender reassignment surgeries for minors and previously voted against a broad bill that would have banned gender-affirming therapies for transgender children.

Why This Matters

• A high-profile endorsement from a former ally can signal cross-party defections and shape how persuadable voters judge a candidate’s character and priorities.
• The race tests how much alignment with a national party leader influences Texas elections versus state-focused governance concerns.
• It highlights how legal and ethical controversies can become central campaign frames, affecting public trust in state institutions and the rule of law.
• Candidate positioning on transgender-related medical care for minors shows the electoral pressure to define limits on contentious cultural issues.