Former Ken Paxton aide backs Democrat, deriding Trump-chosen candidate in Texas Senate bid

David Maxwell, once the director of law enforcement for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has entered a campaign advertisement supporting Democrat James Talarico while harshly criticizing Paxton. Maxwell claims Paxton ended his fifty-year law-enforcement career after he exposed alleged corruption, prompting his 2020 dismissal. He testified during Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial, warning that real-estate investor Nate Paul was a criminal, but the Texas Senate cleared Paxton on all sixteen articles.

Despite the acquittal, Paxton continues to face corruption accusations and personal scandals, including a recent divorce filing. Maxwell, who has never publicly backed a candidate before, says his law-enforcement background compels him to oppose what he calls a “crook.” Defense lawyer Dan Cogdell, who represented Paxton in the impeachment, has also switched his endorsement to Talarico. The race is viewed as a key battleground that could help Democrats flip the U.S. Senate.