Democratic Texas State Rep. James Talarico, his party’s nominee for Senator John Cornyn‘s (R-TX) U.S. Senate seat, this week added another criticism of his Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico — a former school teacher who has already criticized Paxton for owning 15 homes while making an annual salary of $153,750 — is now targeting Paxton’s choice of clothing and accessories on the campaign trail.
With the photo below, of Paxton wearing a gold luxury watch and a purple polo shirt embroidered with the Four Seasons logo, Talarico wrote: “Nothing says you understand the affordability crisis like wearing a $41,000 watch and a Four Seasons polo.”
Nothing says you understand the affordability crisis like wearing a $41,000 watch and a Four Seasons polo. https://t.co/4yl3iQjcq7
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) August 30, 2026
While MAGA accounts on X defend Paxton’s look and accuse Talarico of being “jealous” of Paxton’s financial success, Democratic political pundit Molly Jong-Fast replied: “Also it’s an objectively ugly watch.”
Several X users added to the criticism, noting that Paxton’s shirt appears to be from the Four Seasons in Orlando, “to boot.”
Nothing says Texas like 4 seasons Orlando pic.twitter.com/I7BYLfEqZ6
— Mark Williams (@MOWshottake) August 30, 2026
On Fox News this weekend, Paxton was asked to comment on Cornyn calling him “lazy” and a “poor campaigner” and alleging he’s done “diddly squat” to reach out to traditional Republican donors who supported Cornyn.
Paxton replied that Cornyn’s claim is “ridiculous” and added that “we are attracting Cornyn donors.”
Paxton added that “John Cornyn doesn’t know my schedule,” and said he was averaging about 18 hours a day on the campaign trail.
TX AG Ken Paxton responds to Sen. Cornyn calling him a “poor campaigner” and alleging he’s done “diddly squat” to reach out to traditional Republican donors:
PAXTON: “John Cornyn doesn’t know my schedule. He doesn’t know how many hours I’m putting in every day… the reality is… pic.twitter.com/FxWmtvHNk1
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) August 30, 2026
President Trump made a 3-minute video this weekend to encourage Texans to vote for Paxton, whom he referred to as “the best Attorney General in the United States.”
Trump noted that Paxton is “controversial, a little bit,” and claimed, “the fact that he’s so good makes him controversial.”
The Talarico campaign argues the “controversy” around Paxton involves his own party impeaching him following his request for $3.3 million in taxpayer funds to settle a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former high-ranking staffers. (Paxton was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023 and subsequently acquitted by the Texas Senate.)
Thank you very much, President Trump. We won’t let you down.
Texas will remain Texas, and our country will be safe.
I need everyone watching this to go to https://t.co/cq3Qd9HHjv TODAY and donate. Help us defeat radical socialist James Talarico. Our country is depending on you. pic.twitter.com/j7GPGBbj0C
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 29, 2026