Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is unloading on Democratic state Rep. James Talarico as the two prepare for a November showdown for one of Texas’ U.S. Senate seats.

Paxton, the Republican nominee and Trump-endorsed candidate, sharply criticized Talarico in a recent campaign message, accusing the Democrat of supporting policies that would fundamentally change Texas.

“This guy is really obsessed with transitions,” Paxton said. “He wants to transition your kids. He wants to transition Texas off of oil and gas!”

Paxton then turned the word “transition” into a broader attack on Talarico, adding, “How about we transition HIM and his crazy ideas right out of TEXAS!”

The comments are part of a broader effort by Paxton to draw a sharp contrast with Talarico, particularly on energy policy and issues involving gender and minors. Talarico has defended his positions on those issues, while Paxton has made them central to his criticism of the Democratic nominee.

The Texas Senate race pits Paxton, who has served as the state’s attorney general since 2015, against Talarico, a state representative and former public-school teacher. Talarico, 37, won the Democratic nomination earlier this year and is seeking to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas since 1988. Paxton defeated four-term Republican Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican runoff after receiving Trump’s endorsement.

The contest has drawn national attention as Democrats attempt to compete for a Senate seat that has remained in Republican hands for decades. Recent polling has shown a close race, with Emerson College Polling finding Paxton and Talarico tied at 47% among likely Texas voters in its August survey.

Republicans have also increased their financial involvement in the race. MAGA Inc. recently announced a $10 million advertising effort supporting Paxton, while Trump has said he intends to devote hundreds of millions of dollars from the group to Republican candidates in the 2026 midterms.

Talarico has made affordability, economic issues and his Christian faith major parts of his campaign. Paxton has sought to frame the Democrat as too liberal for Texas, making issues such as energy, taxes, and transgender policy central to his attacks.

The general election will take place November 3, with the outcome determining who succeeds Cornyn in the Senate.