Texas

The Hill -   A lawyer who helped defend Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) during his 2023 impeachment trial has endorsed his opponent, state Rep. James Talarico (D), in Texas’s high-profile Senate race.  Houston-based defense attorney Dan Cogdell, who helped lead Paxton’s successful defense during his 2023 impeachment trial and securities fraud case, said his former client is more focused on serving President Trump than Texans, and that their relationship ended “at the courthouse door.”

“I defended Ken Paxton for years in the impeachment trial and in state criminal cases. But in my view, respectfully, I think Ken has lost sight of his core mission, which is to represent the people of Texas,” Cogdell said in a statement.

He asserted that his decision to endorse Talarico, which was first reported by NOTUS, was not a “betrayal,” but instead came after spending some time with Talarico and realizing he was the better candidate.  “Unlike Ken, I believe to my core that James Talarico believes in unity over division and that he knows how to assemble not only Democrats, but Independents and Republicans, and we need that right now,” he said.

Cogdell’s break from Paxton comes after nine years of defending the Texas attorney general in some of the most politically perilous moments in his career. He also raised a significant amount of money for Paxton, on top of donating $6,500 to his campaign last year, according to FEC filings.

James Talarico - “Since taking office, #KenPaxton’s net worth has increased 7000%, while our wages have remained stagnant. He now owns 11 homes when most Texans can’t afford one. He’s taken bribes from wealthy donors, all while blocking overtime pay for Texas workers and gutting our healthcare."