Texas drag queen and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Alyssa Edwards has fired back at Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton after the Texas attorney general repeatedly used her in an anti-drag campaign attack. Edwards published an open letter to Paxton, detailing her complaints about his recent rhetoric in his campaign against Texas Democratic nominee James Talarico.
Paxton recently shared a video targeting Edwards after Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico identified her as his favorite Texas drag queen. The clip featured footage from Edwards’ television appearances, documentaries, and work with young dancers, while Paxton described her as “James Talarico’s favorite sick and twisted drag queen.”
The video also carried a “VIEWER WARNING” and highlighted children appearing at one of Edwards’ performances. Edwards has thus responded with an open letter posted to social media on September 23, questioning Paxton’s decision to focus his campaign on attacking her personally.
“I’m not sure I fully understand your motive or intention in attempting to disparage my name, my character, or my reputation,” Edwards wrote. She added that the way people speak about others can say more about their own character than the person being attacked.
The Texas performer then laid out her credentials, describing herself as an educator, choreographer, entrepreneur, and mentor with decades of experience. Edwards also pointed to her Texas roots and said her Christian faith remains part of her story.
“As a Texan and a very proud one at that, I would hope that your focus would remain on policy, leadership, and what you intend to provide for the future of ALL Texans,” she wrote. She concluded with a message that contrasted sharply with Paxton’s attacks: “Texas is big enough for all of us.”
People online are praising Edwards
The dispute began after Talarico praised Edwards earlier this month. Paxton subsequently questioned why Talarico was able to name a favorite drag queen so quickly, turning the exchange into a broader political attack on drag performances and LGBT issues.
Social-media users largely rallied behind Edwards, praising the tone of her response. “Alyssa Edwards telling Ken Paxton in the nicest way possible,” one commenter wrote. Another called Edwards the “QUEEN OF DRAGGING DUMB OLD WHITE MEN.” Some also mocked the whole MAGA movement, writing, “MAGA should look in the mirror.”
“She took the high road,” another user wrote, praising what they described as a “beautifully written letter.” Others argued that Paxton’s focus on Edwards represented misplaced priorities, with one commenter agreeing with Edwards that his campaign should focus on policy rather than “bigoted identity politics.”
The confrontation intensifies as drag performers and LGBT issues remain recurring subjects in political campaigns across the United States, particularly in Texas, where Paxton has made opposition to LGBT-related policies a prominent part of his political profile. Meanwhile, Paxton has also made similar attacks on Talarico, his main political opponent, even questioning the latter’s masculinity.
