Live The Texas Senate debate tracker

Is there a Talarico–Paxton debate?

No, because Ken Paxton won’t show up. James Talarico has said yes to six debates. Paxton hasn’t accepted a single one (Texas Tribune). Three debate nights, Sept. 22, Oct. 6 and Oct. 13, came and went because he never said yes.

Updated Oct. 22, 2026

Illustration of a TV debate stage with two podiums under spotlights. James Talarico stands at the left podium. The right podium, labeled Paxton, is empty except for a card reading Reserved: Ken Paxton, while a tumbleweed rolls across the stage. TEXAS · U.S. SENATE · DEBATE TALARICO PAXTON RESERVED KEN PAXTON
Debates Talarico accepted
6
Debates Paxton accepted
0
Days since Talarico said yes
98

Invitation count: five TV networks (Texas Tribune, Oct. 14) plus TMZ (Fox San Antonio, Oct. 21). Days counted from July 16, 2026, when Talarico accepted the first three (Texas Tribune). Illustration.

Six invitations

Six invitations. Zero from Paxton.

Every debate on the table. Talarico said yes to all of them. Paxton couldn’t be bothered to RSVP.

  • Date passed

    NBC · Telemundo · Hearst Texas

    Sept. 22 · 8 p.m. · Rio Grande Valley

    James Talarico accepts · July 16

    Ken Paxton

    Paxton’s campaign “never responded,” Hearst says. Not a no. Not a counteroffer. Nothing. Houston Chronicle · AP

  • Date passed

    WFAA · TEGNA

    Oct. 6 · 8 p.m. · Dallas

    James Talarico accepts · July 16

    Ken Paxton

    Paxton’s team strung WFAA along for weeks, then went dark after Aug. 24. The Dallas debate never happened. Texas Tribune

  • Date passed

    KXAN · Nexstar

    Oct. 13 · 9 p.m. · Austin

    James Talarico accepts · July 16

    Ken Paxton

    As of July 29, Nexstar hadn’t heard a word from Paxton’s campaign. The Austin date came and went. KXAN

  • CNN

    Date open

    James Talarico accepts · Sept. 2

    Ken Paxton

    Paxton didn’t even answer this one himself. One of his handlers waved it off for him, calling CNN’s moderators “far-left activists” and the debate a “CCP-style struggle session.” Texas Tribune

  • Fox News

    Proposed moderator: Bret Baier

    James Talarico proposes it · Sept. 24

    Ken Paxton

    Talarico offered to debate on friendly turf for Paxton, with Bret Baier moderating. Fox said yes on Sept. 29. Paxton still hasn’t. Houston Chronicle

  • TMZ

    Proposed Oct. 21 · any date

    James Talarico proposes it · Oct. 21

    Ken Paxton

    Paxton went on TMZ to say he’d debate under the right terms, just not with a CNN reporter. So Talarico offered TMZ itself. Still no answer. Fox San Antonio · Fox 4

He even called Paxton’s cellphone. Talarico dialed Paxton directly to ask him to debate. He got voicemail. Talarico campaign ↗
Then he took it to TMZ. Paxton said he’d debate on the right terms. Talarico offered TMZ’s. Paxton still hasn’t answered. TMZ, Oct. 21 ↗

Paxton’s excuses, on the record

“Of course we are going to debate James Talarico.”

Nick Maddux, Paxton adviser, July 16 · Texas Tribune

Talarico “always wants something we can’t do.”

Paxton on Fox News, Oct. 12 · The Hill

“I don’t want a CNN reporter covering our debate.”

Paxton to TMZ, Oct. 20 · Fox 4

Talarico, and the Republicans who want a debate

“Literally any time, any place, any network.”

Talarico, Oct. 8 · AP

Talarico should “immediately report to a Debate Stage.”

President Trump, Oct. 7. Talarico’s reply: “Ball’s in your court.” · Texas Tribune

“I don’t think he can win without the debate.”

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), on Paxton · The Hill

Moderator’s cards

Ask him anyway.

The questions Paxton is hiding from. Pick one and watch him answer.

PAXTON RESERVED KEN PAXTON ● CAM 2 · PAXTON

ModeratorPick a question.

Paxton—

  1. The deal: 30 days in jail, a surrendered law license and no sex-offender registration. A judge rejected an earlier one-day version. Paxton’s campaign called Talarico’s push for the records “disgusting.” Texas Tribune →
  2. The New York Times counted at least 15 properties worth about $9 million. Asked about it at a July 21 news conference, Paxton stepped away from the podium. New York Times → · KXAN →
  3. Paxton was deposed twice in a lawsuit over a Plano energy company. The Wall Street Journal reviewed one deposition; it was never made public. Wall Street Journal →
  4. The Texas Tribune and ProPublica tallied nearly 1,000 trips with his taxpayer-funded security detail, costing $3.3 million. Only 138 could be tied to state business. Texas Tribune →
  5. A judge awarded the former aides $6.6 million in April 2025. Paxton dropped his appeal that July. Texas Tribune →

Proof of life. Proof of spine.

He asked where Talarico was. Here’s the answer.

When Talarico was home with the flu, Paxton’s campaign printed “missing” posters and demanded “proof of life” (Texas Tribune). Talarico got better and got back on the trail. Paxton still hasn’t shown up to a single debate.

“[He] asked for proof of life for me. I’m asking for proof of spine from him.”

James Talarico · Texas Tribune, Oct. 13

Proof of life

Oct. 14: Talarico takes voters’ questions at a CNN town hall in Fort Worth. CNN said it invited Paxton and he didn’t respond. Texas Tribune

Proof of spine

Still waiting on Ken Paxton. Six offers on the table. Zero answers.

Proof of life: 83 minutes, every question. Talarico took on a room of Texas Democrats, Republicans and independents on CNN. Paxton was invited and never responded. Jubilee x CNN, Oct. 14 ↗

A decade of empty podiums

He’s been ducking debates for a decade.

Different race, same move. Talarico says Paxton hasn’t debated an opponent in more than a decade (Fox 7). The record:

  1. 2014
    vs. Sam Houston

    Brushed off his opponent’s debate challenges as a “political Hail Mary pass.”

    Texas Tribune
  2. 2018
    vs. Justin Nelson

    No debate. He’d “communicate directly with the voters” instead, his spokesman said.

    Texas Tribune
  3. 2022
    GOP primary

    Skipped his own party’s attorney general debate to go to CPAC in Orlando.

    Texas Tribune
  4. 2026
    vs. John Cornyn

    Got through a primary and a runoff for U.S. Senate without debating Cornyn once.

    Texas Tribune
  5. Now
    vs. James Talarico

    Six invitations. Zero acceptances.

    Texas Tribune

Quick answers

Is there a Talarico–Paxton debate?

No, because Ken Paxton won’t commit to one. As of Oct. 22, 2026, James Talarico has said yes to six debates: NBC/Telemundo/Hearst Texas, WFAA/TEGNA, Nexstar/KXAN, CNN, Fox News and TMZ. Paxton hasn’t accepted a single one (Texas Tribune). Talarico’s offer still stands: “literally any time, any place, any network.”

Are Talarico and Paxton going to debate?

Only if Paxton finally says yes. Three scheduled debate nights (Sept. 22 in the Rio Grande Valley, Oct. 6 in Dallas and Oct. 13 in Austin) passed because he never agreed. His latest excuse, to TMZ on Oct. 20: he doesn’t want a CNN reporter in the room (Fox 4). Talarico answered by offering Fox News and TMZ. Early voting is already underway.

Why hasn’t Ken Paxton debated James Talarico?

He’s run out of excuses, not opportunities. His campaign promised in July, “Of course we are going to debate.” Since then it has attacked moderators, gone silent on networks and told Fox News that Talarico “always wants something we can’t do.” Even Rep. Pete Sessions, a Texas Republican, says, “I don’t think he can win without the debate” (The Hill).

Has Ken Paxton debated before?

Not in a long time. Ducking debates is a habit: in 2014 his campaign dismissed his opponent’s challenges as a “political Hail Mary pass.” In 2018 he said he’d “communicate directly with the voters” instead. In 2022 he skipped his own party’s attorney general debate for CPAC. In 2026 he got through a primary and a runoff without debating Sen. John Cornyn once.

Where is Ken Paxton?

Anywhere but a debate stage. He’s found time for rallies in Allen and Fort Worth (Newsweek), interviews with Fox News and TMZ, and nearly 1,000 trips with his taxpayer-funded security detail (Texas Tribune). He hasn’t found time to debate James Talarico.

When is the Talarico vs. Paxton election?

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Early voting runs through Oct. 30, so you can vote now for the candidate who shows up. Find your polling place at VoteTexas.gov.

Read the reporting

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Vote early: Oct. 19–30 →