FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday accused his U.S. Senate opponent, state Rep. James Talarico, of being “anti-law enforcement” during a campaign event in Fort Worth alongside several Texas sheriffs.
Paxton was joined by Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, Sheriffs’ Association of Texas President Brian Hawthorne and state Rep. A.J. Louderback, who praised his record on public safety and support for law enforcement.
“While we have been working to support law enforcement, there have been others working to undermine it,” Paxton said.
Paxton pointed to his tenure as attorney general, highlighting efforts to prosecute violent crime, defend law enforcement officers in court and expand the attorney general’s office with units focused on human trafficking and organized crime.
He also criticized Talarico, alleging the Democratic lawmaker donated to the Austin Justice Coalition, an advocacy group that supported efforts to reduce funding for the Austin Police Department.
“I’ve supported law enforcement. I’ve supported giving them the resources that they need, protecting them from political attacks,” Paxton said. “He’s done everything he can to hurt the safety of our communities. I’ve done everything I can to make sure that our communities are safer.”
Paxton said that, if elected to the U.S. Senate, he would support President Donald Trump’s border security agenda and efforts to increase federal funding for immigration enforcement.
A spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign rejected Paxton’s accusations, saying the Democratic candidate does not oppose law enforcement and disputing the attorney general’s characterization of his record.
