Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) showered praise on the opponent of a Trump-endorsed Senate candidate, according to reports.
While calling in on Thursday to Sean Hannity's radio show, which was being guest-hosted by Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), Cruz described Democratic candidate James Talarico as "charming" and "affable."
Cruz said Talarico, a state representative, has "a real chance" of beating Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race to replace Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), according to reporting by the Texas Tribune.
"He sounds like a preacher," Cruz said about Talarico. "I worry about the voters who may not be paying close attention to the issues, who just turn on the TV and say, 'Oh, he seems like a nice young man.'"
During the GOP primary runoff in May, Paxton was endorsed by Trump and beat the long-serving Cornyn. However, controversies surround Paxton, including a since-dismissed felony securities fraud indictment, a 2023 impeachment, a whistleblower corruption scandal, an affair, a divorce, and residency questions. Even Paxton's estranged wife, a state senator, hasn't endorsed him.
"I think this is a real race," Cruz said about the Talarico-Paxton race, according to reporting by The Hill. "I think it's going to be close. I think we're going to win. I think we're going to keep Texas red, but the polling right now shows this is a one- or two-point race."
According to The Hill, recent polling has suggested that the race will be a toss-up. Talarico has already raised a record-breaking $30 million in the second quarter of this year, which is more than triple what Paxton raised from April to June, The Hill reported.