James Talarico leaves message on Ken Paxton's phone

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico recorded himself leaving a voicemail on the phone of his opponent, Ken Paxton, in which he asked the incumbent to agree to a public debate. The video of the exchange was released by Talarico’s campaign as part of his outreach to voters.

In the recorded message, Talarico introduced himself and directly invited Paxton to meet on a debate stage, emphasizing the importance of discussing the issues facing Texas voters. The footage shows Talarico speaking clearly into a phone, with the camera positioned to capture both his remarks and the act of dialing Paxton’s number.

Both candidates are competing for a seat in the Texas Senate, with Paxton currently serving as Texas Attorney General. The campaign has been marked by heightened scrutiny of each candidate’s record and policy positions, and the voicemail represents a direct challenge to engage the opponent in a public forum.

As of the time of reporting, there has been no public response from Paxton or his campaign regarding the invitation. The message has been circulated on social media platforms, where it has drawn attention from supporters of both candidates.

The incident underscores the competitive nature of the race, with candidates employing a range of tactics to attract voter interest and encourage dialogue on policy matters.