James Talarico Has Been a Liar

On Stinchfield Tonight, Conservative Caucus President Jim Pfaff told host Grant Stinchfield on October 15, 2026 that the highlight from James Talarico’s town hall is the kind of spot Ken Paxton needs on the air.

Pfaff said what Grant had just played was like 2 or 3 commercials Paxton needs to make to show the lie. “James Talarico has been a liar all the time,” he said.

Commercials to Show the Lie

Grant brought Pfaff on as the president of the Conservative Caucus and asked about the town-hall soundbites. Pfaff’s answer was an ad plan: put the highlight next to Talarico’s record and let the contrast do the work.

He would not treat a mental-institution claim as settled. He said he does not know for sure whether Talarico was in one. He said he had talked with Nick Sorter, who felt they had good information, and then limited the charge to what Talarico himself had said.

we know from his statements all the way through his 2-week disappearance that he was lying.

The CNN Town Hall and a Reminder for Texans

Pfaff said Talarico was floundering, and floundering more in recent days, which is why CNN did this town hall. He asked how many town halls CNN has done for senators and said they did this one because they know Talarico is floundering.

He cast the booking as New York coaching: bring the candidate up, have him say what Texans like, and try to fool them into voting for him. Pfaff does not think that works cleanly. “I don’t think Texans can be very easily fooled, but they do need to be reminded.”

“Paxton should have the comparison videos just to show how clear these lies are.” Pfaff added that he and Grant are not twisting the clips a little for advantage.

Grant Says Moderates May Still Buy It

Grant called the clips flat-out lies, including the claim that Talarico was only being provocative. The people who annoy him most, he said, are self-described independents and moderates who will not pick a side.

He warned that those voters could believe the town-hall lines, and he called the appearance a brilliant move for Talarico’s campaign because the left is still going to vote for him.

Rural Texas, Not Only Dallas and Houston

Pfaff granted the center. “And he might pick up some of these idiots in the center. He might.” What the polls are missing, he said, is the rest of the state. “people in rural Texas are just not going to put up with this guy.”

Talk about Texas, he said, gets stuck on Dallas and Houston. There are a lot of votes in those cities, and a whole lot of Republican votes there too. The place the race is decided is farther out.

He pointed to a race he called very similar: “where Ted Cruz made the difference against Beto O’Rourke, a very similar race, very similar situation, was out in the state.”

Paxton Wins, the Senate Holds, No Blue Wave

Pfaff said people who live truthfully every day do not accept liars and will not go with this one. He thinks the race is breaking Ken Paxton’s way at the right time.

Asked if he feels good about Paxton, he said he does. “I think he’s going to pull it off.” He allowed concerns in some other places around the country.

“I think Republicans are going to keep the Senate and Ken Paxton is going to be part of that.” On the House, he said he does not know where it goes yet, “but it’s certainly not a blue wave.”

Key Takeaways

• The charge: Pfaff said James Talarico has been a liar all the time, and that Talarico’s own statements through a 2-week disappearance show it.
• The ads: He said the town-hall highlight is like 2 or 3 commercials Ken Paxton needs, and that comparison videos would show how clear the lies are.
• CNN: He said CNN did the town hall because Talarico was floundering, and that Texans are not easily fooled but do need to be reminded.
• Rural Texas: He said rural voters will not put up with Talarico, and that Ted Cruz beat Beto O’Rourke out in the state in a very similar race.
• Senate and House: He said Paxton will pull it off, Republicans will keep the Senate, and the House is certainly not a blue wave.