James Talarico courts moderate voters at CNN town hall in Texas Senate race

Democratic nominee James Talarico courted moderate and undecided voters during a 90-minute CNN and Jubilee town hall in Fort Worth, Texas on October 14, 2026. Appearing alone after Republican opponent Ken Paxton declined to participate, Talarico fielded questions on abortion, immigration, and energy while addressing viral conspiracy theories about his recent campaign absence due to the flu. With polling averages showing Talarico leading Paxton by 2.5 percentage points, President Donald Trump preemptively blamed GOP figures for potential defeat in the highly competitive Senate race.

CNN town hall format and audience

• ▪Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico participated in a 90-minute televised town hall co-hosted by CNN and Jubilee in Fort Worth, Texas on October 14, 2026.
• ▪The CNN and Jubilee town hall audience in Fort Worth included approximately 20 Democrats, 20 independents, and 20 Republicans who directly questioned and debated James Talarico.

Talarico presents moderate policy positions

• ▪At the CNN town hall on October 14, 2026, James Talarico pitched moderate policy positions, opposing the abolition of ICE while advocating for border security investments and legal pathways to citizenship.
• ▪James Talarico rejected past progressive characterizations by identifying as a capitalist opposing 'crony capitalism' and clarifying that his 2021 comment that 'God is nonbinary' was intended to be provocative.
• ▪James Talarico defended the oil and gas industry alongside renewable energy, stating he would stand up to the Democratic Party to support an 'all of the above' energy strategy for Texas.

Town hall exchange on abortion

• ▪At the CNN town hall, voter Jodi Hunt questioned James Talarico on his pro-choice stance, citing the Ten Commandments commandment 'thou shalt not kill' from her perspective as an orthodox Catholic.
• ▪James Talarico argued at the town hall that the Bible is silent on abortion, framing abortion as a public health issue where progress can be made by reducing unplanned pregnancies.

Talarico addresses recent campaign absence

• ▪James Talarico denounced online conspiracy theories surrounding his absence—including false claims that he dropped out or was admitted to an Ohio mental health facility—as products of a 'rage economy'.
• ▪James Talarico addressed his recent weeklong absence from the campaign trail at the CNN town hall, explaining he worked remotely while recovering from a case of the flu.

Paxton declines town hall and debates

• ▪Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton did not accept CNN's invitation to participate in the October 14, 2026 town hall alongside James Talarico.
• ▪Ken Paxton has refused all invitations to debate James Talarico, despite calls from Donald Trump for both Texas Senate candidates to face off on a debate stage.

Ken Paxton campaign outreach

• ▪On October 14, 2026, Ken Paxton launched an 18-day 'Come and Take It' bus tour across Texas scheduled to conclude at the Alamo in San Antonio on November 2, 2026.
• ▪On October 14, 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a campaign advertisement touting his legal actions against Big Tech, pharmaceutical companies, and municipal property tax increases.

Donald Trump attacks on Karl Rove

• ▪In a September 14, 2026 Truth Social post, President Donald Trump criticized Karl Rove as bad for the Republican Party and urged Fox News to stop broadcasting him.
• ▪President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that if Ken Paxton loses the Texas Senate race, the blame lies with Senator John Cornyn and commentator Karl Rove for opposing Paxton.