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Republicans are sharpening a single, hard line against Democrat James Talarico this week: his votes against bills that would have limited Chinese access to Texas land and state business. Attorney General Ken Paxton brought the issue to a public event near Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, and conservative groups are running TV ads that frame Talarico as soft on Beijing. That is the campaign message — and it lands hard.
What Republicans are saying
Attorney General Ken Paxton and allied PACs are making the case simple: James Talarico voted against laws meant to stop foreign adversaries from buying Texas land and doing business with state agencies. Paxton held a rally this week with a big sign that read “Talarico Sold Us Out to China.” Ads from groups tied to national conservative donors are running across Texas, repeating the line. The ads point to hundreds of thousands of acres owned by Chinese nationals in the state and ask why a Senate hopeful would vote to prevent limits on that kind of buying.
The votes at the center of the fight
The focus is on two bills. One, commonly called SB 17, would have curbed land purchases by people or companies tied to adversarial foreign powers. The other, SB 667, would have barred state agencies from doing business with entities connected to those same countries. Talarico voted no on both measures while serving in the Texas House. That single voting record is now the clearest political opening Republicans have found in a competitive Senate race.
Why this message matters in the Texas Senate race
This is not just talk about property lines. It is pitched as a national security issue. When large swaths of land sit near military bases or critical infrastructure, voters can picture the risk. Republicans are pairing that imagery with the everyday pain Texans feel: rising prices and tight household budgets. The message is blunt — protect Texas jobs, farms and security, or keep voting for candidates who shrug when foreign powers increase their footprint here. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and conservative groups have jumped on the bandwagon, pouring air support into the ads and giving Paxton’s line more reach.
James Talarico will have to answer more than he has so far. In a high-stakes race, voters want clear choices. Republicans have found a tidy one: stand for stronger limits on foreign land purchases and state contracts, or defend a voting record that lets those deals go unchecked. That is the argument conservatives are running with, and it will be hard for Talarico to shake if the ads keep rolling and Paxton keeps pressing. Voters should watch who talks real security and who sounds like they are making excuses — the choice will matter for Texas.
