Attorney Dan Cogdell, who represented Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during his criminal defense and impeachment trial, endorses Democrat James Talarico in the Texas U.S. Senate race. Multiple outlets report that Cogdell previously defended Paxton against accusations of corruption and securities fraud and was part of Paxton’s team in the 2023 impeachment proceedings, which ended in acquittal by the Texas Senate.
In statements reported by several outlets, Cogdell says Paxton has “lost sight” of his mission and criticizes Paxton’s priorities, including an emphasis on political loyalty. PBS NewsHour and others add that Cogdell attributes Paxton’s approach to favoring President Donald Trump over “Texas families.” MSNBC also reports Cogdell’s comment that the Constitution does not require him to support or endorse anyone.
The coverage also places Cogdell’s endorsement within the context of Paxton’s broader controversies, including settlements tied to securities fraud allegations. While the outlets differ in tone and framing, they agree on the central point: Cogdell is publicly backing Talarico rather than his former client in the Senate contest.
