Hecklers hurled accusations and insults at a beleaguered Republican Senate hopeful's campaign event Saturday as reports honed in on inner-party complaints he "isn't working hard enough."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's difficult day included damning reporting from the Houston Chronicle and a campaign event disrupted when he tried to land a joke about his rival's — state Rep. James Talarico — christian values.
“You cheated on your wife!” the heckler roared back, according to Texas reporter James Barragán.
Allegations of adultery against Paxton have circulated for years, and were discussed at the attorney general's impeachment trial in 2023.
His wife, Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, announced in July that she was filing for divorce "on biblical grounds."
This was not Paxton's hecklers' lone complaint.
Austin Statesman reporter Faith Bugenhagen shared with followers on X video of another heckler who appears to shouting Jeffrey Epstein's name as he's pulled away.
Talarico last month accused Paxton of trying to cover up an “Epstein-style sweetheart deal” the Attorney General's office gave a Waco man who served just 29 days in jail on charges that he sexually abused a child.
The same day as Paxton's Houston event, that city's leading paper published a report on complaints from within the GOP that his campaign wasn't up to snuff.
“Where’s Paxton?” Fox News host Jesse Watters is quoted as complaining. "I’ve seen Mitch McConnell more than Paxton and McConnell’s been in the hospital all summer. Get out of your hole Paxton and do something.”
Already two disruptions here from the crowd https://t.co/vdRMAILpQqpic.twitter.com/GBHUyqXZKH
— Faith Bugenhagen (@FBugenhagen_) August 8, 2026