Think of this not as a political post but a sociological one. What follows is anecdotal but noteworthy.
- Here in Waco, I have seen hundreds of Talarico signs in people’s front yards, but not one Paxton sign. And for the past couple of weeks I’ve been looking hard!
- Every day I get texts and mail flyers denouncing Talarico — and none of them, again not one, has used Paxton’s name. The flyers are pieces of thick glossy stock, full of images of Talarico and denunciations of him, and no mention of Paxton even in tiny print.
This situation gives a new meaning to “negative campaigning.” Clearly Texas Republicans realize that their candidate is radioactive, so radioactive that his name cannot even be mentioned — but they hope to make voters hate the other guy intensely enough that the radioactive guy will win. And — such is America in 2026 — it might work.