Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened his Senate campaign with repeated references to his opponent’s masculinity, a strategy observers say echoes that of former President Donald Trump. Paxton has accused Democratic state Rep. James Talarico of being “Too Low-T for Texas,” framing him as not manly enough to serve as senator. This approach, starting with a May ad, has been adopted by other Republicans, including Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller, who tweeted about Talarico being the state’s first transgender senate candidate, and Vice President JD Vance, who alluded to Talarico’s sexuality at a rally. Even Elon Musk’s super PAC has contributed with commercials attacking Talarico for supporting trans athletes, and Trump himself has accused Talarico of veganism.
While masculinity is not typically a top issue for voters, Paxton’s strategy appears aimed at replicating the success Trump had with young men in 2024, who broke heavily for the former president. At a Paxton rally in Fort Worth, supporters openly criticized Talarico’s manhood and referenced his comments on gender. The campaign’s focus on traditional gender roles and masculinity comes as Texas maintains stereotypes of rugged individualism and conservative values.
Whether this strategy will be effective remains to be seen.
Our reading is that the Paxton campaign, recognizing the potential for economic headwinds and facing a strong opponent, is attempting a shift in focus to cultural issues. By emphasizing masculinity and questioning Talarico’s character in these terms, they appear to be mirroring a strategy previously employed by Donald Trump, seemingly targeting young male voters. The invocation of traditionally conservative values aligns with the established image of Texas, but the effectiveness of this approach remains uncertain given the context of economic anxieties.
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