A Republican Senate aide has taken an unexpected step by collaborating with Democrats to secure a Senate seat that his boss was seeking to vacate.
Texas Senate Democratic candidate James Talarico has brought on a policy staffer from NOTUS who was previously employed by Republican Senator John Cornyn for five years. Reports indicate that Jacob Smith, who held roles as deputy legislative director and policy advisor under Cornyn, will now be the deputy policy director for Talarico’s campaign.
This shift is quite rare for a staffer changing political affiliations, suggesting that Talarico aims to attract Republican voters in a state that hasn’t backed a Democrat for Senate in decades.
Indeed, Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988. Cornyn recently lost the Republican primary runoff to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, effectively concluding his Senate tenure that began in 2002.
This defeat marks the first time a Texas Republican has lost their party’s nomination, as noted by the Associated Press. Just prior to the primary, former President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton, calling him a “true MAGA warrior.”
Cornyn managed to gather the most votes in the initial primary on March 3 but didn’t achieve a majority, which led to the runoff where he was ultimately defeated.
This sets the stage for a November election pitting Paxton against Talarico.
The Senate Republican leadership and the broader Republican establishment supported Cornyn, perceiving him as a less risky choice compared to Democrats.
However, Paxton has faced allegations of corruption, having been impeached in 2023, although he was acquitted.
Democrats have expressed their desire to contest against Paxton, suggesting that his controversial background presents them with a unique opportunity to make inroads in what is typically a solidly red state.
Talarico, who previously worked as a public school teacher, has been serving in the Texas House of Representatives since 2018. He secured the Democratic nomination in March by defeating Representative Jasmine Crockett.
