Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has spent years fending off scandals, investigations, criminal allegations, and even impeachment. Now, one of the people who stood beside him during his biggest political crisis is publicly backing his Democratic opponent.
Dan Cogdell, the Houston defense attorney who helped represent Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial and his long-running securities fraud case, has endorsed Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico in Texas’ closely watched U.S. Senate race.
The endorsement landed like a thunderclap because Cogdell is not a longtime Democratic activist. He was one of Paxton’s most trusted legal defenders.
In comments first reported by NOTUS, Cogdell said Paxton has “lost sight of his core mission, which is to represent the people of Texas.” He added that Talarico believes in “unity over division” and has the ability to bring together Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
Talarico wasted no time turning the endorsement into a political weapon.
“If you voted for John Cornyn, you have a place in this campaign,” Talarico said. “If you’re a Republican tired of the corruption you’re seeing in government, you have a place in this campaign. Even if you’re Ken Paxton’s impeachment lawyer, you have a place in this campaign.”
The line quickly became one of the most talked-about moments surrounding the announcement. Online, many Texans saw the endorsement as a devastating blow to Paxton’s credibility.
One Reddit user commenting on the Texas subreddit discussing the NOTUS article summed up the reaction in a quote that rapidly gained support across the discussion thread: “When you can’t get your own defense lawyer to support you, you must be a really terrible person.”
Texans Pounce on the Optics
The reaction over on Reddit focused less on partisan politics and more on the symbolism of the endorsement. For many commenters, the fact that the criticism is coming from someone who personally defended Paxton carries far more weight than attacks from political opponents.
Several users pointed to Paxton’s long history of controversies, including the 20 articles of impeachment approved by the Texas House in 2023. Others argued that Cogdell’s decision suggests concerns that extend beyond ordinary political disagreements.
One self-described Republican-leaning voter wrote that they would “never vote for Paxton for any office.”
Another commenter called Talarico’s response “the perfect response,” while others praised the Democratic candidate’s ability to capitalize on the unusual endorsement.
Cogdell’s backing of Talarico is particularly notable because he previously donated thousands of dollars to Paxton’s campaign. Federal campaign records show he later donated $1,000 to Talarico’s campaign earlier this year.
The endorsement arrives just weeks after Paxton defeated longtime Senator John Cornyn in a bitter Republican primary battle that exposed divisions within the Texas GOP.
Now, Democrats are hoping the unusual sight of Paxton’s former defense lawyer crossing party lines becomes a powerful argument in the general election.
After all, political opponents criticizing a candidate is nothing new. A former lawyer who helped save that candidate’s career deciding the opponent is the better choice is a much harder story to explain away.
