A dramatic new twist has emerged in Texas’ high-profile U.S. Senate race as one of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s closest legal allies has publicly endorsed his Democratic opponent.
Houston defense attorney Dan Cogdell, who spent nearly a decade representing Paxton through some of the most serious legal and political challenges of his career, announced that he is backing Democrat state Rep. James Talarico in the 2026 Senate race.
Cogdell played a leading role in Paxton’s successful defense during his 2023 impeachment trial and also represented him in his long-running state securities fraud case. Despite that history, Cogdell said he believes Paxton has drifted away from serving Texans and has become overly focused on national politics and loyalty to President Donald Trump.
“I defended Ken Paxton for years in the impeachment trial and in state criminal cases,” Cogdell said in a statement first reported by NOTUS. “But in my view, respectfully, I think Ken has lost sight of his core mission, which is to represent the people of Texas.”
Cogdell emphasized that his endorsement should not be viewed as a personal betrayal, noting that his professional relationship with Paxton ended after the legal cases concluded.
“Our relationship ended at the courthouse door,” Cogdell said.
Instead, Cogdell said his decision came after spending time with Talarico and concluding that the Democratic nominee is better positioned to unite Texans across party lines.
“Unlike Ken, I believe to my core that James Talarico believes in unity over division and that he knows how to assemble not only Democrats, but Independents and Republicans,” Cogdell said. “We need that right now.”
A Significant Break With a Longtime Ally
Cogdell’s endorsement marks one of the most notable defections from Paxton’s inner circle since the attorney general launched his Senate campaign.
The veteran defense attorney was instrumental in helping Paxton survive the most politically perilous period of his career. In 2023, Paxton was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House on allegations involving abuse of office and misconduct. The Texas Senate later acquitted him on all articles of impeachment after a closely watched trial.
Beyond serving as Paxton’s lawyer, Cogdell was also a financial supporter. Federal Election Commission records show he donated $6,500 to Paxton’s campaign last year and helped raise money for the attorney general over the years.
Now, however, Cogdell argues Texas Republicans have failed to adequately address key issues despite controlling state government for decades.
“Republicans have had control of Texas for 30 years. Enough is enough,” he said. “We are last in the country in healthcare, bottom for education, first in school shootings, first in most uninsured.”
Cogdell has also publicly criticized Trump in recent years, including opposing the administration’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” compensation fund for individuals who believe they were improperly targeted by the Justice Department.
Talarico Welcomes Bipartisan Support
Talarico quickly embraced the endorsement, portraying it as evidence that his campaign is attracting support beyond traditional Democrat voters.
“If you voted for John Cornyn, you have a place in this campaign,” Talarico said in a statement. “If you’re a Republican tired of the corruption you’re seeing in government, you have a place in this campaign. Even if you’re Ken Paxton’s impeachment lawyer, you have a place in this campaign.”
“We are building a people-powered movement that welcomes Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike.”
The Austin-area state representative, a former public school teacher and seminary student, has emerged as one of Texas Democrats’ most prominent rising stars.
Since securing the Democratic nomination, Talarico has sought to make Paxton’s long history of legal controversies a central issue in the general election campaign.
High-Stakes Senate Battle
The endorsement comes just weeks after Paxton defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn in a bruising Republican primary runoff, a victory fueled by Trump’s endorsement and strong support from the GOP’s conservative base.
Paxton’s win represented one of the most significant Republican primary upsets of the 2026 cycle and highlighted Trump’s continuing influence within the party.
The general election is now shaping up as one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests. Republicans view the seat as critical to maintaining their Senate majority, while Democrats see an opportunity to compete in a state that has not elected a Democrat U.S. senator since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988.
Political analysts have noted that Paxton enters the race with strong support among conservative voters but also carries significant political baggage from years of legal investigations, impeachment proceedings and ethics controversies. Democrats believe those issues could make the race more competitive than a typical statewide contest in Texas.
Paxton’s campaign dismissed Cogdell’s endorsement and noted the attorney’s longstanding criticism of Trump and support for candidates from both parties.
Still, the endorsement provides Talarico with a powerful talking point as he attempts to build a coalition that includes Democrats, independents and disaffected Republicans uncomfortable with Paxton’s record.
