Cruz: Talarico has ‘real chance’ to beat Paxton in Senate race

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) sent a warning out to his party that state Rep. James Talarico actually has a shot at flipping the Texas Senate seat in November.

“Unfortunately, I do think he has a real chance,” Cruz told Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who guest hosted Sean Hannity’s radio show.

“I think this is a real race. I think it’s going to be close. I think we’re going to win, I think we’re going to keep Texas red, but the polling right now shows this is a 1- or 2-point race.”

Recent polling has shown that the race for the seat is a toss-up between Talarico and state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), with Talarico already raising a record-breaking $30 million in the second quarter of this year, according to his campaign.

Talarico’s campaign contributions are more than triple what Paxton’s campaign raised from April through June.

Cruz’s comments are a clear acknowledgement from a prominent Texas Republican that the race is only tightening.

Cruz repeatedly criticized Talarico over his past remarks, which included calling God “non-binary” as well as his broader views on gender, labeling the Austin lawmaker “radical” and “extreme.”

The Texas Republican did warn, however, that Talarico’s arguably mellow personality could appeal to undecided voters, to the detriment of Republicans.

“This guy is also charming,” Cruz said. “He is affable, he sounds like a preacher, and I worry about the voters who may not be paying close attention to the issues, who just turn on the TV and say, ‘Oh, he seems like a nice young man.’”

Abbott, however, was less concerned about the appeal of Talarico’s personality, saying he thinks the Democrat will become more vulnerable as the race unfolds.

“I personally think Talarico is going to be very beatable once Texans get to know who he really is,” said Abbott.

Talarico, a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2018, secured the Democratic nomination over Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a closely-watched Senate primary.

He will meet Paxton in the general election to replace incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R), who was ousted from the primary after losing to Trump-backed Paxton.