James Talarico turned a packed Plano rally into a prime-time indictment of Ken Paxton on Thursday, opening his general-election push by zeroing in on the attorney general’s legal record. He highlighted Paxton’s 2015 securities-fraud case and the booking photo taken at the Collin County courthouse as, in his view, proof of a pattern of self-dealing. Talarico framed the race as a test of integrity and accountability and urged voters to keep Paxton’s record front and center as the contest moves into the fall. The stop added fresh drama to a race already drawing national attention and heavy outside spending.
Talarico’s charges at the Plano stop
In Plano, on his “People vs. Ken Paxton” tour, Talarico accused Paxton of persuading friends to invest “hundreds of thousands” of dollars in a tech company and then taking a cut of their investments, a charge relayed by the El Paso Times. The outlet reported that roughly 4,000 people turned out for the rally and quoted Talarico claiming Paxton’s personal wealth spiked after the alleged dealings. Throughout his remarks, he repeatedly referenced the Collin County booking photo as a visual reminder of the earlier criminal case.
Paxton’s 2015 securities case
Paxton was indicted in 2015 in Collin County on securities-fraud charges tied to his work with a McKinney technology firm, a saga that featured booking photos and criminal filings alleging he failed to disclose compensation he would receive. Prosecutors focused on his role with Servergy and whether he properly disclosed stock and payments to people he encouraged to invest. Texas Standard summarized contemporaneous reporting and court records from that period.
Where the race stands
Paxton secured the Republican nomination in the May 26 runoff and is set to face Talarico in the Nov. 3 general election, according to The Associated Press. Since the primaries, public polling has suggested Talarico is competitive in hypothetical matchups. A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project survey, outlined by the Houston Chronicle, found him leading Paxton in several scenarios.
Talarico’s strategy
Talarico’s campaign is leaning into an ethics-first case, tying Paxton’s securities allegations to later controversies and impeachment-era turmoil as one broader contrast with his own pitch about working Texans. He has leveled pointed accusations in national interviews, including on network television, that CBS News captured. On the ground, local stops double as organizing sessions as his team tries to convert the attacks into votes in suburban Cook County and Collin County suburbs.
Legal context
Talarico’s critiques plug into a longer history of scrutiny around Paxton. The Texas House impeached the attorney general in 2023 on multiple articles alleging abuse of office and corruption, though the state Senate later acquitted him. The Texas Tribune and other outlets documented the impeachment trial and the political fallout that Democrats now spotlight as a central theme heading into November.
Next steps
Both campaigns are set to crisscross Texas ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, with Democrats betting suburban voters and independents will be decisive and Republicans leaning on Paxton’s conservative record. Voters can expect sharper messaging, more tightly targeted events in Dallas-area suburbs, and another round of outside spending as the calendar tightens. The Associated Press notes national interest in how the contest could shake up Senate math and train fresh attention on Texas this cycle.
