Paxton courts El Paso voters in first Senate campaign stop

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton brought his Senate campaign to El Paso on Wednesday, telling more than 200 supporters at the Summit Ballroom that the race would be decided by voter turnout, according to El Paso Matters.

"There is so much at stake in this election," Paxton, 63, told the crowd at the Westside venue, which interrupted him repeatedly with applause. "Texas is not just another state on the board. You lose Texas, you lose America. Every poll in this race is razor thin. This one gets decided by who shows up, and nobody in this room should sit this one out."

The event marked Paxton's first general election stop in El Paso on his "Protecting the Texas Promise" tour. He is facing Democratic state representative James Talarico, 37, an Austin-area lawmaker and Presbyterian seminarian, in the Nov. 3 election.

Paxton centered his pitch on accomplishments as attorney general, citing a $3.4 billion settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors, and a $1 billion child safety settlement with Meta. He urged voters to contrast his record with Talarico's, describing his opponent's agenda as radical and citing support for additional taxes and transgender student athletes. Talarico has called for taxes targeted at large corporations and the ultra-wealthy, and recently said he would oppose transgender athletes competing in girls sports if there were safety or fairness concerns, according to El Paso Matters.

Paxton framed his campaign around faith, family and freedom, asking attendees to pray for his candidacy and recruit volunteers and donors. He recently launched an economic plan featuring tax breaks for health care and housing and a doubled child tax credit.

Brandon Herrera, the Republican nominee for Texas' 23rd congressional district, appeared alongside Paxton. Herrera, 41, a gun activist and firearms manufacturer, became the GOP nominee after longtime incumbent Tony Gonzales dropped out following a second-place finish in the March primary. Gonzales later resigned his House seat ahead of an expulsion resolution over a sexual relationship with a staff member who took her own life. Herrera faces Democrat Katy Padilla Stout, a San Antonio attorney and former teacher.

Paxton won the Republican primary runoff in May against incumbent John Cornyn, 74, after receiving President Donald Trump's endorsement. Talarico secured the Democratic nomination by defeating Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the March primary.