Republican Aide Joins Democratic Campaign in Texas

Jacob Smith, the deputy legislative director for Republican Senator John Cornyn, has joined the campaign of Democrat James Talarico for the Texas Senate seat. Smith stated, "I’ve worked for Republicans like Senator Cornyn my entire career, but this year I’m proud to be joining James Talarico’s campaign," emphasizing Talarico's focus on the needs of everyday people. Smith will serve as deputy policy director for Talarico's campaign. This development follows Cornyn's defeat in the Republican primary to Ken Paxton by nearly 28 points. Despite his loss, Cornyn has expressed his intention to support Paxton in the upcoming general election. The Senate race has garnered national attention, with polls showing Talarico slightly ahead of Paxton at 51%-48%. It has been nearly 40 years since a Democrat won a Senate race in Texas.