James Talarico recorded himself dialing Ken Paxton and leaving a message after the line went unanswered. The Democratic U.S. Senate nominee posted that 40-second clip to X, showing the call reaching voicemail rather than a live pickup.
In the message, Talarico invited Paxton to meet him on Fox News. He told Paxton that Texans start voting in less than a month and that voters deserve to hear from both of them before then. He added, “We haven’t heard from you and we’re running out of time.”
According to USA Today, The phone call came after Talarico said at The Texas Tribune Festival that he would debate Paxton on Fox News. He has said Fox News would provide a “safe space” for Paxton and has named Bret Baier as a possible moderator.
Talarico said he has already accepted four local television debates
Talarico identified himself at the start of the voicemail. “Hey Ken, it’s James,” he said. “I’m calling to invite you to a debate on Fox News. Texans start voting in less than a month and they deserve to hear from both of us before they do. I’ve accepted four local TV debates, but we haven’t heard from you and we’re running out of time. So, if Fox News is where you’ll be most comfortable, I’ll be there because I think it’s that important. Bret Baier can moderate. We can both take questions. And Texans can hear from us directly. So, give me a call back and I look forward to hearing from you.”
Ken Paxton keeps dodging debates.
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) September 25, 2026
So I called his cell to invite him to a debate on Fox News.
He didn’t pick up. pic.twitter.com/EnaNREE6pH
The two men are running to succeed Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton won the Republican nomination after defeating Cornyn in a primary runoff that followed an endorsement from President Donald Trump. According to Fox 4, no Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994. It’s unclear whether Paxton had agreed to any other debate with Talarico.
WFAA reported on Sept. 22 that its management had spent weeks trying to arrange a debate with the Paxton campaign. The station said those messages stopped drawing replies after Aug. 24.
Paxton is scheduled to take his “Protecting the Texas Promise” tour to El Paso on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Talarico’s debate challenge comes as he surges in the Texas Senate race without AIPAC cash.
Brandon Herrera is listed as a guest for that stop. Herrera is the Republican nominee in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, which includes El Paso, and has been described as a gun-rights advocate and a YouTuber known as “The AK Guy.”
The tour is being used to promote an economic plan Paxton has tied to affordability. Coverage of the schedule said affordability has risen toward the top of many Texas voters’ priorities. Paxton’s availability for calls has been a recurring point of interest, such as when a caller during a town hall asked him about his personal life. Paxton has said the plan would put thousands of dollars back in Texans’ pockets.
