Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton told Fox News on Sunday that he still hasn’t debated Democratic rival James Talarico because their campaigns can’t iron out the details — a claim Democrats dismiss as a lie.
During an appearance on Fox’s The Big Weekend Show, co-host Johnny “Joey” Jones asked Paxton whether voters should expect him to face Talarico on the debate stage.
“President Trump called you guys out and said y’all should have a debate and talk about the issues and contrasts between your policies,” Jones said, referring to Trump’s post on Truth Social last week calling for the pair to square off. “Is that in the works?”
Paxton responded that his campaign has been trying to schedule a debate with his Democratic opponent but hasn’t been able to work out those devilish details.
“We’ve been working on that for months with him, and of course, we can never quite work out the details because he always wants something we can’t do,” Paxton said. “So, the reality is — the big story — is the fact that he was missing from the campaign trail. He’d like to change the topic to debates.”
Talarico’s campaign called bullshit.
The Democratic state rep’s camp has accepted invitations to five debates so far, including one with Fox News, in addition to a CNN Town Hall scheduled for Wednesday. Paxton has refused every one of those invitations, according to Talarico’s campaign.
Ryan Martin, the spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Party, said Paxton’s response on Fox News shows why the race is so close.
“Paxton is a liar and a coward hiding from the debate stage because he has no answers for his career of corruption,” Martin said. “Paxton is blaming everyone but himself for his disastrous campaign, and even Republicans are getting fed up. Texans deserve a debate.”
Indeed, Talarico holds a 2.8-point lead in the race, according to the latest polling average from Real Clear Politics.
Talarico’s lead has heightened Republican fears that Democrats could win their first statewide election in Texas since 1994.
Over the weekend, MAGA influencers pushed a baseless claim that Talarico had secretly spent the past two weeks in an Ohio mental health facility.
Talarico’s campaign maintains that its candidate was sick with the flu. The mental health facility where Talarico was allegedly housed, the Lindner Center of Hope has since denied that Talarico received treatment there.
During an interview on MSNOW, Talarico tried to flip the script.
“I’ve heard credible reports that Ken Paxton has a serious medical condition that causes clinical levels of cowardice,” Talarico said. “It’s why I haven’t heard from him after eighty-five days since I first challenged him to a debate publicly, and I think people are concerned.”
Talarico continued: “He has asked for proof of life from me; I am asking for proof of spine from him.”
Early voting runs Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
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