Former state Sen. Kel Seliger said he is standing by his support for Democrat James Talarico in the U.S. Senate race. In an appearance on CNN, Seliger said he respects Republicans who back Attorney General Ken Paxton's campaign, but said the stakes are too high for him to support the Republican nominee.
Seliger also spoke about his endorsement of Talarico, which he announced last week. He said Talarico has always shown empathy toward people who need lawmakers in the Capitol and in Washington. Seliger said he wants leaders who focus on the needs of Texas families, not on the priorities of Donald Trump.
The CNN interview followed a rally in Amarillo earlier this week, where Seliger spoke before Talarico. At that event, Seliger criticized Trump and said Republican attacks on Talarico are not true. Seliger, a former Amarillo mayor, served in the Texas Senate from 2004 to 2022. Midland businessman Kevin Sparks replaced him.