Paxton Aide David Maxwell Backing Talarico in Attack Ad

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico unveiled a new campaign advertisement that features former aide David Maxwell, who served nearly a decade as the Texas Attorney General’s director of law enforcement. The ad, released on Tuesday, positions Maxwell as a key witness to the conduct of Republican rival Ken Paxton, the current Texas attorney general.

Maxwell’s tenure with Paxton spanned close to ten years, during which he oversaw the state’s law‑enforcement operations. According to The Texas Tribune, six years ago Maxwell reported Paxton to the FBI, citing concerns about the attorney general’s conduct. The inclusion of Maxwell in Talarico’s ad underscores the campaign’s focus on accountability and transparency in Texas politics.

Talarico’s campaign has framed the advertisement as evidence of Paxton’s questionable leadership, arguing that the former aide’s testimony supports the need for new representation in the Senate. The ad is part of a broader strategy to highlight alleged misconduct by Paxton ahead of the upcoming election, with Talarico seeking to appeal to voters concerned about governance and ethics.