Even though Ken Paxton has promoted himself as the tough-on-crime candidate in Texas’ U.S. Senate race, some Lone Star State law enforcement officials are throwing their support behind his Democratic rival.
The latest is Charley Wilkison, the former head of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) — the state’s largest police union.
Wilkison, who led CLEAT for 11 years, wrote in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on Friday that he’ll vote for Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in the race, praising the former San Antonio public school teacher’s “vision on unity.”
“To him, it doesn’t matter what your politics are or whether you have a political identity at all,” Wilkison wrote. “He’s a champion for all of us: everyday Americans getting the short end of a corrupt political and economic system.”
Wilkison’s endorsement follows Texas Ranger Hall of Famer David Maxwell’s endorsement of Talarico last month. Maxwell was among the whistleblowers who reported Paxton, Texas’ attorney general, to the FBI in 2020, alleging bribery and abuse of office.
“Texans deserve a Senator who serves the people — not a crook who serves himself,” Maxwell said.
The endorsements for Talarico from law enforcement officials come as negative TV ads paint the Democrat as anti-cop. Paxton has also made similar claims during campaign events.
During a July press conference in Fort Worth alongside more than 20 sheriffs, Paxton described Talarico as one of the most “anti-law enforcement” politicians of all time, citing the Democrat’s alleged donation to the Austin Justice Coalition, a police reform nonprofit.
“He’s tried to take away funding,” Paxton said at the time. “He supported efforts with his own money to defund police in Austin. His voting record is abysmal as it relates to law enforcement and protecting our communities.”
Even so, Wilkison said Paxton — whose run has been hampered by a series of scandals — doesn’t pass the smell test.
“In this era of divisiveness, James Talarico offers a much-needed message of unity to people like me who want, more than anything, something that Americans of all political persuasions can rally around together: a fair shot at the American Dream,” Wilkison wrote.
Both Paxton and Talarico will make stops in and around San Antonio ahead of Election Day.
Paxton will be at Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in New Braunfels at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. He will appear in San Antonio on Monday, Nov. 2, for a final rally at the Alamo.
Talarico will also rally in San Antonio at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Club 1902. He will again visit San Antonio on Sunday, Nov. 1, for a rally at the Espee.
Early voting continues through Oct. 30. Polls will reopen on Election Day, Nov. 3.
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