Ken Paxton Accused of Misrepresenting Crowd Size at Texas Rally

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been accused of inflating the crowd size at a rally held on July 17, 2026, at the University Draft House in McAllen, Texas. Paxton claimed that 763 people attended the event, despite the venue's maximum capacity being 414 people across its event spaces, with the largest accommodating only 150 guests. Photos and videos from the rally showed several empty seats and ample standing room, contradicting Paxton's claim. Local news outlet MyRGV.com reported that the actual attendance was around 100 people, primarily older attendees. The discrepancy has drawn criticism from Texas Democrats, with Paxton's opponent, James Talarico, and Texas Democratic Party spokesperson Ryan Martin commenting on the situation. Paxton's campaign has not responded to requests for comment. The rally follows an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, which has stirred reactions within the Republican Party.