Ken Paxton's Senate Nomination Raises Stakes in 2024 Fight With Latino Voting Groups
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 6
Ken Paxton's Senate Nomination Raises Stakes in 2024 Fight With Latino Voting Groups
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 6
Summary
Paxton's Republican Senate nomination last month turned his long-running clash with Latino-led voting and immigrant-rights groups into a fight that could shape both his political future and Senate control.
The conflict stems from Paxton's years of pushing unproven claims of widespread noncitizen voting and, in 2024, using a new restrictive Texas voting law to target left-leaning Latino organizations.
That law made routine mobilization tactics felonies, including paying staff or giving volunteers stipends or gas money, visiting voters at home, and helping elderly or bilingual voters complete and return ballots.
Groups including LULAC and immigrant-rights organizers say the campaign has left volunteers rattled, organizations struggling and some leaders facing lawsuits or investigations as Texas' Hispanic electorate keeps growing.
With new laws criminalizing voter outreach, how are civic groups adapting their engagement strategies?
How does the Supreme Court's new standard on vote dilution impact challenges against state voting laws?
What are the privacy implications of building a national voter database using state registration lists?
Talarico vs. Paxton: Inside Texas’s Closest and Most Expensive Senate Race, with Latino Voters Set to Decide 2026 Outcome
Overview
The 2026 U.S. Senate race in Texas has become one of the most expensive and closely watched contests in the country, with major implications for both state and national Senate control. As of early June, Democrat James Talarico holds a narrow lead over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, following hard-fought primary victories for both candidates. Recent polling highlights a highly competitive landscape, with Talarico’s advantage reflecting shifting voter sentiment and the growing importance of key demographics. The outcome of this race will not only determine Texas’s Senate representation but could also influence the balance of power in Washington.