Texas · U.S. Senate · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on foreign policy and trade?
Ken PaxtonRepublican
James TalaricoDemocrat
Part of the full Texas U.S. Senate comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Foreign Policy & Trade
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
Ken Paxton
Supports President Trump's actions in the war in Iran, saying Iran cannot be allowed to become nuclear, and in 2025 said he fully supported Trump's tariffs.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Public statementAug. 2026
Asked in August 2026 whether he would vote for additional military funding for the war in Iran, said he did not know the intelligence, was "supportive of what the president is doing," and that "we cannot let Iran be nuclear." SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Public statementApril 2025
In April 2025 told the Houston Chronicle that he fully supported President Trump's tariffs and that because of them "more and more countries are coming to the table to negotiate." SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Public statementAug. 2026
Asked in August 2026 whether he would vote for additional military funding for the war in Iran, said he did not know the intelligence, was "supportive of what the president is doing," and that "we cannot let Iran be nuclear." SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Public statementApril 2025
In April 2025 told the Houston Chronicle that he fully supported President Trump's tariffs and that because of them "more and more countries are coming to the table to negotiate." SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
James Talarico
Supports a war powers resolution on the Iran war, backing Ukraine and NATO, repealing Trump's tariffs, and halting offensive weapons sales to the Netanyahu government while supporting defensive systems.
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
Told The Texas Tribune he would vote for a war powers resolution requiring the president to get congressional authorization for the war in Iran. SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal
Proposes ending the Iran war while preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon, supporting Ukraine, deepening cooperation with NATO and the EU, stopping offensive weapons sales to the Netanyahu government while supporting defensive systems such as Iron Dome, and pursuing a two-state solution. SourceJames Talarico on Foreign Policy, Iran & Israel (opens in a new tab)Talarico for Texas · Jan. 2, 2026 · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
Told The Texas Tribune he supports repealing the Trump administration's tariffs, saying higher tariffs mean fewer jobs and higher prices. SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
Told The Texas Tribune he would vote for a war powers resolution requiring the president to get congressional authorization for the war in Iran. SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal
Proposes ending the Iran war while preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon, supporting Ukraine, deepening cooperation with NATO and the EU, stopping offensive weapons sales to the Netanyahu government while supporting defensive systems such as Iron Dome, and pursuing a two-state solution. SourceJames Talarico on Foreign Policy, Iran & Israel (opens in a new tab)Talarico for Texas · Jan. 2, 2026 · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
Told The Texas Tribune he supports repealing the Trump administration's tariffs, saying higher tariffs mean fewer jobs and higher prices. SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
In their own words
Statements
Ken Paxton
War with Iran
I obviously think we cannot let Iran be nuclear. That would be a disaster for the world. So I am in support of the president.
Ken Paxton · Answer to a Texas Tribune question on whether he would vote for additional military funding for the war in Iran · Aug. 2026
SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
James Talarico
War with Iran and war powers
As your senator, I will vote in support of a war powers resolution to put a stop to this reckless war that has left the American and Iranian people all worse off than before it started.
James Talarico · Written answer to The Texas Tribune's U.S. Senate candidate questionnaire, asked how he would vote on a war powers resolution requiring the president to get formal authorization for the war in Iran · Oct. 13, 2026
SourceTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
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