Dan Cogdell, a Houston lawyer who defended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against criminal charges and represented him during his 2023 impeachment trial, has endorsed Mr. Paxton’s Democratic opponent, James Talarico, in the U.S. Senate race.
Cogdell expressed his belief that Paxton has lost focus on his primary duty to represent the people of Texas. He stated that Talarico emphasizes unity over division and possesses the ability to unite both Democrats and some Republicans. Cogdell argued that this ability is essential in current times.
Cogdell’s endorsement was announced during a podcast interview with Talarico, recorded last month, shortly after Paxton’s win over Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary. This move reinforces Talarico’s message that Republican voters who supported Cornyn could find a place within the Democratic campaign.
“I’m not interested in pitting people against each other,” Talarico mentioned in the podcast.
Cogdell had previously made the maximum personal contribution allowed by law to Paxton’s Senate campaign. However, his stance shifted due to Paxton’s strong alignment with President Trump, as Cogdell revealed in a recent interview with The New York Times.

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