Talarico says GOP opponent 'embodies this corrupt, rigged system’

[0:00] Let's look at some of the TV ads I know you've seen, because everyone in Texas has seen them. [0:06] But these are the TV ads that Republicans ran against Ken Paxton, your new Republican opponent, [0:13] and he survived these ads. Let's watch this. [0:18] It's voting time, so let's cut through the bullshit. Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife. [0:24] She's divorcing him on biblical grounds. So now Paxton's wrecking another home, [0:29] sleeping around with a married mother of seven. In office, Ken Paxton's net worth increased by up [0:36] to 7,000%. How the hell is that even possible? Crooked Ken is now worth up to 12 million bucks. [0:44] He owns 11 homes, claiming three of them as his primary residence. Well, we know Ken Paxton cheats. [0:53] Just ask the mother of his children. [0:56] Why does Ken Paxton go easy on child predators? [0:59] A Waco attorney, Adam Hoffman, sexually abused a child in three years. [1:04] Paxton gutted the case, offering him just a slap on the wrist. [1:08] Are those important issues in this campaign? [1:17] Absolutely. There is no more important issue than protecting our children. [1:21] And the fact that Ken Paxton would let a known predator back out on the streets, [1:26] to me, is unconscionable. And it's going to be part of our prosecution of Ken Paxton [1:31] in the months ahead. Texans will understand the choice that's before them, the choice of the most [1:37] corrupt politician in America and a candidate who is running on trying to lower costs and clean up [1:44] corruption. There's going to be a contrast between service and selfishness. And I look forward to [1:52] making that case to the people of Texas. [1:54] Do you, based on everything you've seen, understand, can you describe how Ken Paxton [2:01] so massively increased his net worth on a government salary? [2:06] I think we're going to have plenty of time in the weeks and months ahead to explain to Texans exactly [2:12] how that's possible. Some of it is already known. You know, Ken Paxton was indicted for fraud. [2:19] He was impeached for bribery. He has shown over and over again that he's only concerned about himself [2:27] and that he's willing to use his position of public trust, his public office, to enrich himself at our [2:34] expense. And again, Ken Paxton owns 11 homes while we can't afford one. Ken Paxton's net worth went up [2:42] by 7,000% while our pay has been stagnant. So this is going to be the fight before us, because [2:52] this is not just about Ken Paxton. It's about the corrupt system that he embodies, that he represents. [2:58] If we can defeat the most corrupt politician in America in this year, in this race, in this state, [3:05] then we can defeat this entire corrupt system. And if people watching are ready to join the movement [3:11] that we're building, I hope they'll go to jamestalarico.com, sign up to volunteer, sign up [3:16] to donate, because we're going to need everybody if we're going to defeat the most corrupt politician [3:21] in America. There's a University of Texas poll from April, now outdated, but poll in April, [3:31] Tallarico versus Paxton, just isolated the two of you. And it had you running at 42 and Ken Paxton then [3:39] running at 34. Now he's a winner of the Republican nomination. Now he has Donald Trump's endorsements. [3:47] So we don't know what that would mean to that polling now. On the issue that we just discussed [3:53] before the commercial break, Donald Trump's war in Iran. The University of Texas poll showed in Texas, [4:02] 49 percent disapprove, 37 percent approve, so that your position obviously is the winning position, [4:14] as it were, in that particular poll and the winning position with Texas voters. How important do you [4:22] think that issue, that the war in Iran, is going to be between now and November? [4:28] I think it's going to be a very important issue. Texans are feeling the pain at the pump. It's [4:35] because of this disastrous war in Iran. I put forward a proposal to suspend the federal gas tax, [4:42] which would lower gas prices by 18 cents a gallon immediately. I've also proposed suspending the [4:50] federal diesel tax, because when the price of diesel goes up, the price of everything goes up, [4:54] because that's how all of our goods are shipped, and how they're transported. And right after I did [5:01] that, President Trump came out in support of suspending those two federal taxes. And so I think [5:08] what Texans are looking for are leaders who are going to fight for them, who are going to focus on [5:15] reducing costs, focus on unrigging this economy so that it works for regular people again. And that's [5:21] what we're going to be focused on for the rest of this campaign. Ken Paxton embodies this corrupt [5:27] bridge system, and we're going to build a movement to unrig it on behalf of the people of Texas. [5:33] You're going to have to get Lloyd Benson's old seat on the Senate Finance Committee to be in a strong [5:38] position to get those fuel taxes suspended. That's where the action is on that one. [5:43] As you know, and I'm sure you know, and I'm sure you've talked to them, there are some John [5:49] Cornyn voters out there tonight who are gravely disappointed and would have a difficult time [5:56] trying to cast a vote for Ken Paxton in November. But they are Republicans, and they vote Republican. [6:04] What do you have to say to those Cornyn voters tonight who are so disappointed with this outcome [6:11] on the Republican side in Texas tonight? Well, first, I want to thank Senator Cornyn for his [6:17] many years representing the state of Texas in our nation's capital. He and I don't agree on everything, [6:24] but we both still believe in public service. The idea that these positions of public trust [6:31] are meant to be a service to our constituents. And so to Senator Cornyn supporters, I know you're [6:39] feeling disappointed tonight, but I want you to know that you have a place in our campaign. [6:45] This movement we're building is bigger than any political party. It's bigger than partisanship. [6:51] It's about service versus selfishness. It is about serving the people of this state, [6:58] improving people's lives through public policy. And so I would welcome any of the senator's supporters [7:06] to join us this evening as we embark on this journey to take back our state and take back our country [7:11] from corrupt politicians like Ken Paxton. [7:13] Thank you.