Texas U.S. Senate Voter Guide: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on Priorities and Cost of Living
Three candidates are on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Texas in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election: Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico of Austin, and Libertarian Ted Brown. The seat is held by Sen. John Cornyn, who lost the Republican primary to Paxton, according to The Texas Tribune.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video for this race compares the three candidates on two questions: their top priorities and their plans for the cost of living. Here is where each candidate stands, based on the video and the candidates' own statements.
Ken Paxton (Republican)
On top priorities, the video lists Paxton's as lowering costs, restoring the American Dream and keeping Texas safe. Announcing his economic plan in July, Paxton said, "Washington has made it harder than ever to get ahead, and the American Dream is slipping away as the cost of everything from housing to healthcare rises," according to The Texas Tribune. "My agenda is very simple: I believe every Texan should be able to buy a home, raise a family and live a healthy life without struggling to make ends meet."
On the cost of living, the video highlights three proposals from that plan: a $25,000 tax deduction for out-of-pocket health costs, a $50,000 deduction for buying a home and a permanent doubling of the tax credit parents claim for each dependent. The Texas Tribune reported that the medical deduction would cover out-of-pocket expenses including premiums, that the $50,000 home deduction is aimed at first-time buyers, and that Paxton's plan would raise the per-dependent credit from up to $2,200 to up to $4,400.
James Talarico (Democrat)
On top priorities, the video says Talarico wants to tackle corruption to bring down costs, by banning corporate PACs and getting big money out of politics. "We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis," Talarico said when he rolled out his economic agenda in August, according to The Texas Tribune. His campaign website says he hasn't taken corporate PAC money since his first race in 2017 and that his anti-corruption agenda would ban super PACs and corporate PACs and ban stock trading by members of Congress.
On the cost of living, the video lists a cost-of-living tax cut, higher wages and lower prices from big drug and health care companies. The Texas Tribune reported that his plan would repeal recent tax breaks for the top 1% of earners and direct that money to a "cost-of-living tax cut," and would raise the minimum wage and expand overtime pay. His campaign website says he would "cut taxes for working people, cap credit card interest rates, and lower the cost of rent, groceries, utilities, and gas."
Ted Brown (Libertarian)
Brown is a longtime Libertarian Party activist who has worked as a self-employed independent insurance adjuster, according to The Texas Tribune. On top priorities, the video lists personal and economic freedom, digital privacy and no foreign military intervention. His campaign website says he opposes digital identification requirements and government surveillance, and calls Libertarians "consistently anti-war and against foreign intervention."
On the cost of living, the video says Brown would cut government spending and the Trump tariffs and cut income and property taxes. "I would eliminate every tariff change Trump has made," Brown told The Texas Tribune, adding, "Overall, I am for free trade." His website says taxes "are always too high" at every level of government and pledges, "I will never vote to raise taxes." KLTV reported that his proposals include abolishing the federal income tax and the IRS.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Ken Paxton: @kenpaxtontx on X. James Talarico: @jamestalarico on X. Ted Brown: @TedBrownLiberty on X.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: The Texas Tribune, "On the issues: A Q&A with U.S. Senate candidates James Talarico, Ken Paxton and Ted Brown" (Oct. 13, 2026): https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/13/talarico-paxton-texas-us-senate-2026-election-q-and-a/ ; The Texas Tribune, Paxton economic plan (July 31, 2026): https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/31/texas-ken-paxton-us-senate-race-economic-agenda-tax-deductions/ ; The Texas Tribune, "James Talarico rolls out economic agenda" (Aug. 5, 2026): https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/05/texas-senate-james-talarico-economic-agenda-ken-paxton/ ; Talarico campaign, Taxes and Cost of Living: https://jamestalarico.com/issue/taxes-cost-of-living/ ; Talarico campaign, Corruption and Democracy: https://jamestalarico.com/issue/corruption-democracy/ ; Ted Brown for U.S. Senate: https://tedbrown.org/ ; KLTV, "Libertarian Ted Brown launches 2026 Texas Senate bid against Paxton, Talarico" (Sept. 28, 2026): https://www.kltv.com/2026/09/28/libertarian-ted-brown-launches-2026-texas-senate-bid-against-paxton-talarico/
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