James Talarico Schedules Three Televised Debates Against Ken Paxton

James Talarico scheduled three televised debates for his campaign against Republican Ken Paxton, proposing a series of statewide broadcasts in September and October. The proposed dates include a September 22 event in the Rio Grande Valley hosted by NBC, Telemundo, and Hearst; an October 6 event in Dallas with WFAA and TEGNA; and an October 13 event in Austin with KXAN and Nexstar.

Ken Paxton has not yet confirmed the specific dates. While his campaign initially stated it was close to finalizing terms with one media outlet, adviser Nick Maddux later challenged the proposed format, characterizing Talarico's terms as political theater. Maddux stated that Paxton seeks a fair side-by-side comparison of the candidates' policy differences.

The debate dispute occurs as recent polling suggests a competitive race. A July 28 Texas Public Opinion Research poll shows Talarico leading 45% to 40%, while a Fox News poll from late July places him ahead 51% to 48%. These figures mark a shift from June polling, which had previously shown the candidates in a deadlock.