Will Ken Paxton debate James Talarico?
No. As of Oct. 14, 2026, Ken Paxton had not accepted any of five debate invitations from TV networks, including Fox News. James Talarico accepted his first three debate invitations in July and has accepted at least four. With no debate on the calendar, Talarico did a CNN and Jubilee town hall on Oct. 14, where 60 Texas voters, a third of them Republicans, questioned and debated him for 90 minutes.
The count
So Talarico debated voters instead
On Oct. 14 in Fort Worth, CNN and Jubilee Media put Talarico in front of about 60 Texas voters: roughly 20 Democrats, 20 independents and 20 Republicans. For 90 minutes they asked questions and argued with him directly on abortion, energy, immigration, the deficit, super PACs and congressional stock trading. Republicans in the room pressed him on his past emissions bill and the oil and gas industry. Texas Tribune
CNN invited Paxton. The network said he did not respond. Axios
How we got here
- July 17Talarico accepts three televised debates: NBC/Telemundo/Hearst in the Rio Grande Valley (Sept. 22), WFAA in Dallas (Oct. 6) and KXAN in Austin (Oct. 13). He asks Paxton to accept them too. KPLC/Texas Tribune
- July 17Paxton's campaign receives the same invitations and commits to none. Adviser Nick Maddux says the campaign will debate and is close to terms with one outlet. No agreement is ever announced. KPLC/Texas Tribune
- AugustTalarico posts that he agreed to three debates and Paxton declined every one. WFAA later reports Paxton's campaign stopped answering its messages after Aug. 24. KBTX
- Sept. 23A Texas A&M student group offers a 90-minute debate on Oct. 14 at Rudder Auditorium. Paxton's campaign does not confirm. KBTX reports Paxton also turned down a CNN debate offer, which his adviser called a stunt. KBTX
- Sept. 24At the Texas Tribune Festival, Talarico challenges Paxton to a Fox News debate moderated by Bret Baier. Fox later agrees to host it. Paxton does not commit. Texas Tribune
- Oct. 7Talarico has accepted at least four debate invitations from CNN and local TV stations. The Tribune says this could be the first Texas Senate race without a debate in 25 years. Texas Tribune
- Oct. 8President Trump says Talarico should get on a debate stage. Talarico agrees and tells Paxton the ball is in his court. Paxton does not publicly respond. PBS NewsHour
- Oct. 11Asked on Fox News whether he will debate, Paxton says talks keep stalling over Talarico's terms, then turns to Talarico's absence from the trail with the flu. Mediaite
- Oct. 14Talarico takes 90 minutes of questions from Democratic, independent and Republican voters at a CNN and Jubilee town hall in Fort Worth, the same night as the proposed A&M debate. CNN invited Paxton; he did not respond. Texas Tribune
Common questions
Why won't Ken Paxton debate Talarico?
Paxton's campaign said in July that it would debate Talarico, then stopped responding to TV stations that offered to host. On Fox News on Oct. 11, Paxton said talks keep stalling because Talarico asks for terms his side can't accept. His adviser called a CNN offer a stunt. Talarico accepted the stations' invitations as offered.
What was the Talarico CNN Jubilee town hall?
A 90-minute CNN town hall in Fort Worth on Oct. 14, 2026, produced with Jubilee Media. About 20 Democrats, 20 independents and 20 Republicans questioned Talarico and debated him directly on abortion, energy, immigration and more. CNN invited Paxton; the network said he did not respond.