Sen. Cruz responds after retired Republican judge calls Paxton “Texas’ most corrupt politician” while endorsing Talarico, asks “Didn’t this jackass endorse Colin Allred & Kamala Harris too?”

Texas – “Didn’t this jackass endorse Colin Allred & Kamala Harris too? I’m not sure ‘Republican’ is an accurate description for him….”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz criticized former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley after Whitley, a Republican, endorsed Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Cruz responded to a post from CBS Texas reporter Jack Fink, who reported that Whitley endorsed Talarico during an event in Arlington. According to Fink’s post, Whitley said he was “ashamed” that Paxton was on the ballot and described him as the “most corrupt politician Texas has ever seen.”

Team Talarico later highlighted the endorsement on social media, sharing that retired Republican Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley backed the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. In the post, Whitley was quoted as saying, “I’m ashamed that Ken Paxton is even on the ballot. He’s the most corrupt politician Texas has ever seen.” The endorsement prompted a sharp response from Sen. Ted Cruz, who questioned Whitley’s Republican credentials in a post on X.

The endorsement added another high-profile Republican voice to the group of GOP figures who have publicly opposed Paxton’s Senate bid. The Texas Senate race has become increasingly competitive, with Talarico attempting to attract independent voters and Republicans who remain critical of Paxton’s political record, HC reported.

Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, questioned whether Whitley should continue to be described as a Republican after his support for Democratic candidates in previous elections.

The senator referenced Whitley’s past endorsements of Democratic candidates, including former U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred and Vice President Kamala Harris, while criticizing his decision to back Talarico against Paxton.

Whitley served as Tarrant County judge for more than a decade and has remained a prominent figure in North Texas politics. His endorsement represents another example of divisions among Republicans over Paxton’s candidacy.

Paxton secured the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat after defeating longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary. His campaign has faced continued scrutiny over past legal and political controversies, including his 2023 impeachment trial in the Texas House, where he was acquitted by the Texas Senate.

Talarico, a Democratic state representative, has made Paxton’s controversies a central focus of his campaign, arguing that Texas voters deserve a different direction in Washington. Meanwhile, Paxton has attacked Talarico as too liberal for Texas and has focused on consolidating Republican support ahead of the general election.

The Whitley endorsement follows other notable instances of Republicans or former Paxton allies backing Talarico. In June, attorney Dan Cogdell, who previously represented Paxton during his impeachment trial and legal battles, endorsed Talarico, saying he believed Paxton had lost sight of his mission to represent Texans.

As the Senate race continues, both campaigns are working to define what Republican voters and independent voters want from their next senator. Paxton’s supporters have emphasized his conservative credentials, while Talarico’s campaign has sought to build a coalition that includes Democrats, independents, and Republicans dissatisfied with Paxton.

Cruz’s criticism highlighted the broader Republican divide surrounding the race, as Paxton attempts to unite the party behind his campaign while opponents point to continued resistance from some GOP figures.