US Chamber of Commerce endorses Republican Ken Paxton in Texas Senate race

The United States Chamber of Commerce endorsed Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton on Sunday, according to reports from the Washington Examiner, The Hill, and Bloomberg. Paxton and his Democratic opponent, 37-year-old state Representative James Talarico, held opposing campaign rallies on Sunday evening ahead of the start of early voting in Texas on Monday. Talarico hosted a rally in Plano as part of a campaign push in North Texas, while Paxton brought his tour to San Antonio, the Washington Examiner reported. [1][4][8][9]

The campaign events come as Paxton attempts to overcome a polling deficit and a lack of unity among Republican voters. According to the Washington Examiner, a ReconMR and Siena Research Institute poll showed Talarico leading Paxton with 48 percent support to 44 percent. Talarico has maintained a small lead by holding firm Democratic backing while attracting some Republican crossover voters, the Washington Examiner reported. [3][4]

Paxton has served as the 51st attorney general of Texas since 2015. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Paxton previously warned donors about a large campaign spending disparity between his team and Talarico, even as former President Donald Trump maintained his endorsement of Paxton. [11][13]

The high-profile Texas race takes place just weeks before the nationwide United States midterm elections scheduled for November 3, 2026. The Washington Examiner noted that the result in Texas could determine which party holds control of the United States Senate. [1][3][4][14]