Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s campaign hired a staffer from Republican Sen. John Cornyn, NOTUS has learned.
Jacob Smith, who worked for Cornyn for five years as a deputy legislative director and policy adviser, is taking on the role of deputy policy director for Talarico’s campaign.
“I’ve worked for Republicans like Senator Cornyn my entire career, but this year I’m proud to be joining James Talarico’s campaign,” Smith confirmed in a statement through the Talarico campaign. “Instead of playing partisan politics, Talarico speaks to the needs of everyday people who day in and day out work too hard for too little. In the Senate, James will fight to lower costs for all 31 million Texans, whether they’re Republicans, Democrats, or independents, so that Texans of all ages have a fighting chance at the American Dream of starting a family, owning a home, and leaving a little behind for their children.”
Smith also took aim at the GOP nominee, adding, “Ken Paxton is the most corrupt, self-dealing politician in Texas who would sell their futures to the highest contributor just to hold onto power. I’m encouraging all my fellow Republicans who know Ken Paxton is unfit to serve in the Senate to finally hold him accountable at the ballot box.”
Trending
Smith previously worked on the House Science Committee for Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Oklahoma) and was a legislative aide for Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).
When contacted for comment, a Cornyn spokesperson directed NOTUS to remarks the senator has made repeatedly in recent months where he’s said he will “support the Republican ticket” in the fall.
Political campaigns typically don’t hire staffers of the opposing party. What makes this case even more unusual is that Cornyn lost to Talarico’s opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a bitter Republican primary runoff earlier this year.
When asked of the prevalence of such a cross-party hire, one Republican operative was curt.
“That is unheard of,” said the operative, who’s worked on Senate races, about a move at that level.
Cornyn’s defeat set off alarm bells among Republicans who believe that Paxton’s personal baggage — including his indictment for fraud, impeachment and extramarital affair — could put a safe seat in jeopardy and give Democrats another path to winning the Senate. He dodged a criminal trial by agreeing to community service.
Polls have found the Texas race to be a dead heat, with Talarico picking up support from independents and even some Republicans.
“What you will see is a lot of Republicans sit out the top of the ticket,” a Texas Republican operative who requested anonymity told NOTUS. “I don’t necessarily think you’ll see a lot of Republicans pull the trigger for Talarico because he’s so liberal and ideas are so outside the mainstream, but they can’t stomach voting for Paxton. That’s his biggest weakness in the state.”
Talarico has a “better chance than any Democrat has had in the state in a very long time,” the operative added. “The question is: Is the money going to be there to define Talarico like they need to define him?”
The Texas Democrat has already raised more than $70 million — more than any other nonincumbent candidate has raised this cycle and millions more than Paxton. Supporters seem so enthusiastic about giving to Talarico, some are giving more than the legal maximum, so he’s had to give some back.
This story was updated to clarify Smith’s title as “deputy policy director” instead of “deputy political director and to correct the House member he worked for on the Science Committee.
Authors
