Ken Paxton's defense attorney endorses James Talarico in race for Texas Senate seat
Talarico received an endorsement from the attorney who formerly represented Ken Paxton.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYThe Washington Examiner is an established national outlet with an identifiable author and conventional reporting practices. This brief story attributes key information to NOTUS and FEC data, though it offers limited independent sourcing and context.
- Source type — Established national news outlet; a strong credibility prior, with the outlet's viewpoint not determining the article's factual reliability.
- Transparency — The story identifies NOTUS and FEC data as sources and says the outlet sought comment from both campaigns.
- Author attribution — A named reporter is credited.
- Editorial standards — The outlet has an established newsroom, though this short article provides little detail about its corrections practices.
The article gives the endorsement's context, attributes Cogdell's remarks, cites FEC data and says both campaigns were contacted. It is concise and offers little response from the campaigns or broader context for the candidates' claims.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article attributes the endorsement and includes the campaign's broader two-sided contest, but the central claim comes from the endorser and neither campaign's response is included.
- Counterarguments presented — The article says both campaigns were contacted but does not include their responses.
- Source diversity — It draws on Cogdell's comments, NOTUS reporting and FEC data, but has limited direct sourcing.
- Loaded language — Some colorful descriptions appear, but the story also reports attacks by both candidates.
- Omitted context — The brief article gives limited context about the candidates' positions and the significance of the endorsement.
The article reports the endorsement and the surrounding race in mostly descriptive language, with statements and campaign attacks attributed to their sources. Its wording does not establish a clear partisan framing.
- Language tone — Predominantly reportorial; pointed descriptors about the candidates appear as characterization rather than the article's sustained argument.
- Source selection — Cogdell's remarks are quoted, both campaigns were contacted, and the article describes attacks from both candidates.
- Framing — The story centers on an unexpected endorsement and provides brief context about both sides of the race.
Houston attorney Dan Cogdell, who formerly represented Ken Paxton, endorsed Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. The endorsement adds a notable voice to a closely watched Texas Senate race.
The Washington Examiner reported that Cogdell endorsed Talarico after defending Paxton in his 2023 impeachment trial and donating to Paxton’s campaign. Cogdell told NOTUS that Paxton had “lost sight of his core mission” and said he believes Talarico can unite Democrats, independents and Republicans.
The article describes the endorsement as surprising and places it in a Texas Senate race expected to be expensive and competitive. It also notes that Paxton and Talarico are attacking each other over their records and positions, while early general-election polling has been within single digits.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Talarico in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Talarico’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →President who endorsed Paxton
Texas Senate candidate and Cogdell's former client
Texas senator defeated by Paxton in the GOP runoff
Part of a bigger story
30 OUTLETSOutlets agree that Dan Cogdell, Ken Paxton’s former attorney, endorsed James Talarico in the Texas U.S. Senate race. Left-leaning outlets connect the endorsement to Talarico’s cross-party coalition and, in some coverage, present it as a rebuke to Paxton. Center outlets mostly report the endorsement, Cogdell’s criticism of Paxton and the response from Paxton’s camp, with some noting Talarico’s coalition appeal. Right-leaning outlets range from straightforward endorsement coverage to questioning its significance, while one article instead focuses on photos of Talarico eating meat.
- ARTICLES
- 31
- OUTLETS
- 30
- AVG CRED
- 72
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