The James Talarico endorsement making headlines this week comes from an unexpected source: one of the lawyers who spent years defending Ken Paxton. In a striking turn in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races, Houston attorney Dan Cogdell is backing the Democrat over his own former client.

A Surprising Switch of Sides

Cogdell represented Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for nearly a decade as the Republican faced accusations of corruption and securities fraud. He was also part of Paxton’s defense team during the historic 2023 impeachment trial, which ended in acquittal.

Talarico spotlighted the endorsement on Monday, and the optics are notable given that Paxton’s legal history sits at the heart of the Democrat’s campaign messaging. Interestingly, Cogdell did not point to his former client’s past troubles when explaining his decision.

Why Cogdell Made the Call

Cogdell was careful to separate the man from the politician. He said he doesn’t dislike Paxton personally and believes Texas lawmakers were right to acquit him. His objection, instead, is political. In his view, Paxton is too consumed with pleasing President Donald Trump.

He put it bluntly in an interview, recalling years of hard work on Paxton’s behalf while drawing a clear line between his duties as an attorney and his responsibilities as a citizen. Once the courtroom work was done, he said, his obligation shifted to doing what he believes is right for the state.

Cogdell argued that Texas faces serious challenges in areas like education and health care, and that simply rubber-stamping Trump’s agenda isn’t what the state needs in Washington. He recently hosted Talarico for an extended conversation on his podcast as well.

The Paxton Camp Pushes Back

The response from Paxton’s side was dismissive. A campaign aide noted that Cogdell is a Democrat and called the endorsement unsurprising.

Tony Buzbee, who served as lead defense attorney in Paxton’s impeachment trial, echoed that sentiment on X and made clear he is supporting Paxton in the race.

For his part, Cogdell described himself as a registered Democrat, though he noted that Texas voters don’t actually register by party. He characterized himself as a moderate and pointed out that, over the years, he has donated more to Republican candidates than to Democrats.

What’s at Stake in the Race

The contest carries real national weight. Talarico has given Democrats genuine hope of flipping a statewide Texas seat as the party works to retake control of the U.S. Senate in November.

Paxton arrived at this point through an insurgent campaign of his own, defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn in last month’s Republican primary runoff. A late endorsement from Trump in the closing days helped push him over the line.

With a defector from Paxton’s own legal team now in the Democratic column, the race is shaping up to be as personal as it is political, and a telling test of how Texas voters weigh loyalty to Trump against other priorities.