A former top law enforcement official under Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was later fired after reporting the GOP Senate nominee to the FBI, is backing Democrat James Talarico in the closely watched Senate race.
David Maxwell, who served as Paxton’s director of law enforcement for nearly a decade, endorsed Talarico on Tuesday and appeared in a new campaign advertisement attacking his former boss.
“Ken Paxton ended my five-decade career in public service because I blew the whistle on his corruption,” Maxwell said in a news release. “Today, I am endorsing James Talarico because Texans deserve a Senator who serves the people — not a crook who serves himself.”
Maxwell worked for nearly 50 years in Texas law enforcement, including as a Texas ranger who was later inducted into the Hall of Fame before joining the attorney general’s office.
He was among a group of senior Paxton aides who reported the attorney general to the FBI in 2020, alleging Paxton abused his office to benefit Austin real estate developer and political donor Nate Paul. Paxton later fired Maxwell and several other whistleblowers.
The whistleblowers sued Paxton’s office under the Texas Whistleblower Act. A judge last year ordered the state to pay the four former aides, including Maxwell, a combined $6.6 million. Paxton did not appeal the judgment but has denied wrongdoing. Investigations stemming from allegations involving his ties to Paul were ultimately closed without charges against Paxton.
Maxwell also testified during Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial, telling state senators that he warned the attorney general that his efforts to assist Paul could get him indicted. Clips of Maxwell’s testimony were included in an ad from the Talarico campaign touting Maxwell’s endorsement.
The GOP-controlled Texas Senate ultimately acquitted Paxton on all articles of impeachment considered at trial.
The endorsement gives Talarico another Paxton orbiter to feature against the Republican nominee. Dan Cogdell, an attorney who represented Paxton for years and helped defend him during the impeachment trial, endorsed Talarico in June.
THE GOP’S TEXAS-SIZED KEN PAXTON DILEMMA
Talarico has made Paxton’s legal and ethical controversies a central theme of his campaign as Democrats seek to flip a Senate seat in a state they have not won in decades.
The race has also drawn increasing national attention as polls show a competitive contest. President Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC announced a $10 million advertising push attacking Talarico, its first major investment in a marquee general election race this cycle.