Former Rep. Alan Steelman (R-Texas) (Photo: Screen capture)
As President Donald Trump's convention kicks off in Dallas, Texas, many Republican voters joined Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico as he launched a statewide effort to help fill food bank shelves with his "Help Thy Neighbor" campaign. Those GOP voters didn't have anything positive to say about the GOP candidate, Ken Paxton.
"Why are you here? You are elected as a Republican and I believe you're still a Republican," MS NOW Chris Jansing asked former Rep. Alan Steelman (R-Texas).
"Well, I am," Steleman said about his GOP registration. "It is a bridge too far for many Texas Republicans to vote for any Democrat. However, there are times when party loyalty demands too much. And this is one of those times."
Dorothy Burton went on to say that the main reason that she won't support Paxton is that "he's trash."
"That's a strong word," said Jansing.
"That's an honest word. He isa disgrace. He's a disgrace tomy party. He's a disgrace tohumanity. And he's a disgrace," she added.
That word, "disgrace," as well as allegations about "corruption," are the words she said she's hearing.
She noted how tight the race is in a state that should be reliably red. Talarico is slightly ahead and he's winning the money race to keep his campaign ads on television. Trump has been forced to come rescue Paxton's low fundraising with his own super PAC funds. So far, the president intends to give $10 million from his MAGA Inc. group. Elon Musk is giving $1.6 million out of his nearly $1 trillion in wealth.
Talarico told Jansing that he doesn't think the lies that Republicans are spinning about him will work, but she said that there's a lot of negativity on the airwaves.
Talarico told the crowd at the event that he'd be happy to take photos with folks without charging them $88,000. It's a knock on Trump's convention that will only allow photos with the president to those willing to pay the hefty price.
The Democrat launched an ad this week with a whistleblower from Paxton's own office who accused the outgoing attorney general of abusing the power of his office. Those accusations ultimately led to Paxton's impeachment.
“Ken Paxton ended my five-decade career in public service because I blew the whistle on his corruption,” Maxwell says in the ad.