Texas · U.S. Senate · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Where do the candidates stand on government and democracy?

Ken PaxtonRepublican
James TalaricoDemocrat

Part of the full Texas U.S. Senate comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026

Government & Democracy

Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.

Documented positions

Backs the SAVE America Act's proof-of-citizenship and photo ID rules and faulted Sen. John Cornyn for opposing ending the filibuster to pass it; in 2020 sought to sue four states over election procedures.

Show the evidence (2)

Public statementMarch 2026
Said he would work to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo identification at the polls; in March 2026 he said he would consider leaving the Republican runoff if Senate Republican leaders abolished the filibuster and passed the bill, and criticized Sen. John Cornyn for opposing scrapping the filibuster to pass it. 2 sourcesTexas U.S. Senator — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnairePaxton says he’d consider dropping out of Senate runoff if Republicans pass voter ID bill (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune, via Houston Public Media · March 6, 2026 · News
Past actionDec. 2020
As attorney general in December 2020, asked the U.S. Supreme Court for leave to sue Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin over changes to their election rules and to extend the deadline for certifying their presidential electors; the Court denied the motion for lack of standing. 2 sourcesTexas v. Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin: Motion for Leave to File Bill of Complaint (docket No. 22O155) (opens in a new tab)Supreme Court of the United States · Dec. 7, 2020 · Court recordOrder List (592 U.S.), Friday, December 11, 2020: 155, Orig., Texas v. Pennsylvania, et al. (opens in a new tab)Supreme Court of the United States · Dec. 11, 2020 · Court record

Public statementMarch 2026
Said he would work to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo identification at the polls; in March 2026 he said he would consider leaving the Republican runoff if Senate Republican leaders abolished the filibuster and passed the bill, and criticized Sen. John Cornyn for opposing scrapping the filibuster to pass it. 2 sourcesTexas U.S. Senator — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnairePaxton says he’d consider dropping out of Senate runoff if Republicans pass voter ID bill (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune, via Houston Public Media · March 6, 2026 · News
Past actionDec. 2020
As attorney general in December 2020, asked the U.S. Supreme Court for leave to sue Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin over changes to their election rules and to extend the deadline for certifying their presidential electors; the Court denied the motion for lack of standing. 2 sourcesTexas v. Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin: Motion for Leave to File Bill of Complaint (docket No. 22O155) (opens in a new tab)Supreme Court of the United States · Dec. 7, 2020 · Court recordOrder List (592 U.S.), Friday, December 11, 2020: 155, Orig., Texas v. Pennsylvania, et al. (opens in a new tab)Supreme Court of the United States · Dec. 11, 2020 · Court record

Proposes banning super PACs, corporate PACs and partisan gerrymandering, capping campaign contributions, banning stock trading by members of Congress, and passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Show the evidence (3)

Campaign proposal
Says his first legislative package would ban super PACs, corporate PACs and partisan gerrymandering; also proposes term limits for members of Congress, a ban on congressional stock trading, and term limits and a binding ethics code for Supreme Court justices. 2 sourcesJames Talarico on Corruption & Democracy (opens in a new tab)Talarico for Texas · CampaignTexas U.S. Senator — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
Campaign proposal2026
Told the VOTE411 voter guide he would cap campaign contributions, ban dark money groups and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. SourceTexas U.S. Senator — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
Past actionAug. 2025
In August 2025 was among the more than 50 House Democrats who left Texas to deny the House a quorum and block a congressional redistricting map; Paxton then asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove him and 12 other Democrats from office, which the court declined to do on May 15, 2026. 3 sourcesTexas attorney general sues to remove 13 House Democrats from office (opens in a new tab)The Dallas Morning News · Aug. 8, 2025 · NewsTexas Supreme Court Rejects Abbott, Paxton Petition to Remove Democratic Quorum-Breakers from Office (opens in a new tab)The Texan · May 19, 2026 · NewsDemocrat Gene Wu can keep House seat, Texas Supreme Court rules (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · May 15, 2026 · News

Campaign proposal
Says his first legislative package would ban super PACs, corporate PACs and partisan gerrymandering; also proposes term limits for members of Congress, a ban on congressional stock trading, and term limits and a binding ethics code for Supreme Court justices. 2 sourcesJames Talarico on Corruption & Democracy (opens in a new tab)Talarico for Texas · CampaignTexas U.S. Senator — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
Campaign proposal2026
Told the VOTE411 voter guide he would cap campaign contributions, ban dark money groups and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. SourceTexas U.S. Senator — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
Past actionAug. 2025
In August 2025 was among the more than 50 House Democrats who left Texas to deny the House a quorum and block a congressional redistricting map; Paxton then asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove him and 12 other Democrats from office, which the court declined to do on May 15, 2026. 3 sourcesTexas attorney general sues to remove 13 House Democrats from office (opens in a new tab)The Dallas Morning News · Aug. 8, 2025 · NewsTexas Supreme Court Rejects Abbott, Paxton Petition to Remove Democratic Quorum-Breakers from Office (opens in a new tab)The Texan · May 19, 2026 · NewsDemocrat Gene Wu can keep House seat, Texas Supreme Court rules (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · May 15, 2026 · News

Recorded votes on government and democracy

Selected votes

Measures only one of the two candidates voted on.

S.B. 14, requirements to vote, including proof of identification (82nd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2011)
Democracy
Required voters, with limited exceptions, to present one of a list of approved forms of photo identification, such as a Texas driver's license or a U.S. military identification card, to vote at the polls.
The House adopted the conference committee report 98–46 on May 16, 2011; signed by the governor May 27, 2011. In July 2016 the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a finding that S.B. 14 violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act through its discriminatory effects and sent the case back for a remedy. In May 2017 the Legislature enacted S.B. 5 to replace S.B. 14, adding a reasonable-impediment declaration for voters without the required photo ID; in 2018 the Fifth Circuit reversed a district court injunction against both laws, finding S.B. 5 an effective remedy.
5 sources82(R) History for SB 14 (opens in a new tab)Texas Legislature Online · Legislative record82(R) SB 14 - Enrolled version - Bill Text (opens in a new tab)Texas Legislature Online · May 2011 · Legislative recordHouse Journal, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 77th Day (Monday, May 16, 2011) (opens in a new tab)Texas House of Representatives · May 16, 2011 · Legislative recordVeasey v. Abbott, No. 14-41127 (5th Cir. July 20, 2016) (en banc) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, via U.S. Department of Justice · July 20, 2016 · Court recordVeasey v. Abbott, No. 20-40428 (5th Cir. Sept. 3, 2021) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Sept. 3, 2021 · Court record
Voted yes
Texas House of Representatives · May 16, 2011
On adoption of the conference committee report (Record 1128)
2 sourcesHouse Journal, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 77th Day (Monday, May 16, 2011) (opens in a new tab)Texas House of Representatives · May 16, 2011 · Legislative record82(R) History for SB 14 (opens in a new tab)Texas Legislature Online · Legislative record

H.R. 2377, impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton (88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023)
Democracy
Resolution impeaching Attorney General Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. and sending articles of impeachment to the Texas Senate, including articles alleging that he misused the powers of his office to benefit Nate Paul.
Adopted by the Texas House 121–23, with 2 present, not voting, on May 27, 2023 (Record 2191). On Sept. 16, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton on 16 articles and dismissed the remaining four.
3 sourcesHouse Journal, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 73rd Day (May 27, 2023) (opens in a new tab)Texas House of Representatives · May 27, 2023 · Legislative record88(R) HR 2377 - Introduced version - Bill Text (opens in a new tab)Texas Legislature Online · May 2023 · Legislative recordKen Paxton (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · Reference
Voted yes
Texas House of Representatives · May 27, 2023
On adoption of the resolution (Record 2191)
SourceHouse Journal, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 73rd Day (May 27, 2023) (opens in a new tab)Texas House of Representatives · May 27, 2023 · Legislative record

In their own words

Statements

Voting rights legislation
That’s why I look forward to working to pass the Save America Act that will require voter ID for federal elections; because it will preserve the faith and trust in our electoral process that every citizen deserves.
Ken Paxton · Written answer to the League of Women Voters' VOTE411 voter guide question on voting rights · 2026
SourceTexas U.S. Senator — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire

Voting rights and campaign finance
In the Senate, I will cap campaign contributions, ban dark money groups and super PACs, and ban partisan gerrymandering so that every American has an equal say in our politics and our policymaking.
James Talarico · Written answer to the League of Women Voters' VOTE411 voter guide question on voting rights · 2026
SourceTexas U.S. Senator — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire

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