Dan Cogdell, an attorney who previously defended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on criminal charges and represented him during his 2023 impeachment trial, has publicly endorsed Paxton’s Democratic opponent, James Talarico, in the U.S. Senate race. Cogdell, a Houston lawyer, criticized Paxton for losing sight of his primary responsibility to represent the people of Texas.
Cogdell expressed that Talarico emphasizes unity over division, seeking to connect Democrats and some Republicans, a quality he deems necessary in the current political climate. This endorsement came during a podcast interview with Talarico, recorded shortly after Paxton won the Republican primary against Senator John Cornyn.
The endorsement has strengthened Talarico’s campaign message directed at Republican voters who supported Cornyn, encouraging them to find common ground in Talarico’s Democratic campaign. Talarico articulated his approach in the podcast, stating his disinterest in creating further political division.
Cogdell had previously made a maximum personal contribution to Paxton’s Senate run, according to campaign finance records, but recently decided that Paxton’s alliance with President Trump was a concern. He discussed this perspective in an interview with The New York Times.
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