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Karl Rove Warns Paxton Debate Refusal Could Cost Race

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 2:48 PM UTC · How we work

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Debate Refusal Risk

Strategist Karl Rove questioned Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s willingness to debate Senate candidate James Talarico at the Chicago Club on October 3, 2026.
His warning said refusing the debate could cost Paxton the tightly contested Senate race.
PollsMax’s average showed Talarico ahead of Paxton by 0.2 percentage points in early October 2026.
An internal Paxton poll released after the Republican convention placed Paxton three points ahead of Talarico.

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Trump Endorses Paxton

Karl Rove questioned Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s willingness to debate candidate James Talarico at the Chicago Club on October 3, 2026.
The coverage stresses that Paxton’s refusal denies Texas voters a direct comparison with his opponent in a Senate race.
James Talarico challenged Paxton to a debate, saying he would enter the ‘lion’s den’.
U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn, highlighting GOP’s $100 million ad defense.

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Debate Refusal Risk

Strategist Karl Rove questioned Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s willingness to debate Senate candidate James Talarico at the Chicago Club on October 3, 2026.
His warning said refusing the debate could cost Paxton the tightly contested Senate race.
PollsMax’s average showed Talarico ahead of Paxton by 0.2 percentage points in early October 2026.
An internal Paxton poll released after the Republican convention placed Paxton three points ahead of Talarico.

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