2026 Texas Senatorial race: debates and news coverage


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Ted Brown: No government between doctors & patients, including abortion.

Budget & Economy     Ken Paxton: Fight to cut taxes and stop the wasteful spending.     Wesley Hunt: Codify DOGE cuts to wasteful spending.     James Talarico: Trickle-down economics is not a theory, it is theft.     Jasmine Crockett: Award block grants to invest in helping small business .     Ted Brown: Market-led recovery produces best result.

Civil Rights     Ken Paxton: Consenting same-sex adult encounters should be illegal.     Ted Cruz: Urged NCAA to ban transgender athletes from women's sports.     James Talarico: Protect the legality of gay marriage, defend LGBTQ+ rights.     Jasmine Crockett: Co-sponsored bill to protect LGBTQ+ people worldwide.     Ted Brown: Don't require hiring women & minorities.

Corporations     Jasmine Crockett: Make billionaires and corporations pay their fair share.

Crime     Jasmine Crockett: Look for crimes in the Epstein files, not smearing Trump.     Ken Paxton: Wants power to prosecute election crimes; claims DAs won't.     Wesley Hunt: Against the radical liberals seeking to defund the police.     James Talarico: Prioritize services to prevent crime before it happens.     James Talarico: Prosecute ICE agents who have abused their power.     Jasmine Crockett: De-fund DHS and impeach DHS Secretary.     Ted Brown: Too many laws; concentrate on real crimes.

Drugs     James Talarico: Legalize regulated marijuana for adults.     Ted Brown: Legalize marijuana.

Education     Ken Paxton: Parents should have the right to choose the best school.     James Talarico: Reject voucher scams being pushed by billionaire mega-donors.     Ted Brown: Tuition tax credits for school choice.     Jasmine Crockett: Adequate resources for all Texas public schools.

Energy & Oil     Ken Paxton: Sues over destructive, politicized environmental agenda.     Wesley Hunt: We should be drilling more for more oil and gas, not less.     Wesley Hunt: Onerous, burdensome regulations killing oil and gas industry.     James Talarico: Diversify energy production, accelerate renewables.     Ken Paxton: Sue federal gov't to fight radical climate change movement.     Jasmine Crockett: Reinstate incentives for wind and solar energy.     Ted Brown: Competition among oil, gas, wind, solar, and nuclear.

Environment     Ken Paxton: Block the implementation of a methane emissions tax.     James Talarico: Strengthen the Clean Air Act & Clean Water Act.     Ted Brown: EPA and polluting both violate private property rights.

Families & Children     James Talarico: Pass paid family leave legislation.     Ted Brown: Support rights, no matter their sexual preference.

Foreign Policy     Ken Paxton: He will work to advance an America First foreign policy.     Wesley Hunt: America must defend Israel.     James Talarico: Deepen cooperation with NATO, the EU, and other allies.     Jasmine Crockett: We must restore the strained relationships with our allies.     Ted Brown: Good relations with all nations.

Free Trade     Wesley Hunt: Trump will win political & economic battle over tariffs.     James Talarico: Remove the Trump Administration's tariffs on farm inputs.     Jasmine Crockett: Repeal Trump's unlawful tariffs that hit Texas the hardest.     Ted Brown: Repeal all Trump tariffs; no more tariffs by whim.

Government Reform     Wesley Hunt: Ensure all legal registered voters have Voter ID.     James Talarico: Make it easier for citizens to participate in our elections.     Jasmine Crockett: Cut burdensome red tape on small businesses.     Ted Brown: Make voter registration easier, with voter ID.

Gun Control     Ken Paxton: He will stand with President Trump to protect our gun rights.     Wesley Hunt: A strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and gun owner.     James Talarico: Protect 2d Amendment, establish universal background checks.     Ted Brown: Strong 2nd Amendment supporter.

Health Care     James Talarico: Allow every American regardless of age to join Medicare.     Ted Brown: Repeal ObamaCare.

Homeland Security     Wesley Hunt: Deploy federal troops for interior immigration enforcement.     James Talarico: Stand against efforts to privatize the VA.     Jasmine Crockett: Prioritize service members pay, healthcare, benefits.     Ted Brown: Defense only; no international global military .

Immigration     Ken Paxton: Deport criminal illegal aliens Biden invited into country.     Wesley Hunt: Support efforts to deport Biden's illegal immigrants.     James Talarico: Create pathways for certain undocumented immigrants.     Jasmine Crockett: Create a pathway to legal status and citizenship.     Ted Brown: Pathway to citizenship for working immigrants.

Jobs     James Talarico: Support workers' right to unionize.

Principles & Values     Ken Paxton: A staunch supporter of the America First movement.     Ken Paxton: God was telling me get the Christian community out to vote.     Wesley Hunt: I believe each life is a precious gift in the image of God.     James Talarico: Reject policies forcing religion in neutral public spaces.     James Talarico: Have responsibility to not fan flames of campaign.     Jasmine Crockett: Black churches are a critical part of Democratic base.     Jasmine Crockett: I'm done watching the American dream on life support.     Ted Brown: America founded on separation of church and state.

Social Security     James Talarico: Social Security under threat for billionaire tax breaks.     Jasmine Crockett: Raise the cap so everyone is paying their fair share.     Ted Brown: Privatize Social Security for younger workers.

Tax Reform     James Talarico: Make corporations, wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.     Ted Brown: Repeal income tax; abolish the IRS.

Technology     James Talarico: Increase funding to expand high-speed internet access.

War & Peace     James Talarico: Ensure Ukraine remains free and independent.     Ted Brown: No military involvement abroad; end Trump Iran War.

Click for quotations from other sources by: James Talarico Democratic Challenger Texas Jasmine Crockett Democratic Challenger Texas Ken Paxton Republican Challenger Texas Ted Brown Libertarian Party Challenger Texas Ted Cruz Republican 2016 Primary Challenger Wesley Hunt Republican Challenger Texas