Politics editor @TexasTribune. Formerly @HoustonChron, @ExpressNews, @NorthwesternU. Email: [email protected]
Austin, TX
Joined March 2010
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Jasper Scherer retweeted
After the GOP primary runoff, I set out to interview Republican voters who had supported U.S. Sen. John Cornyn about what they were thinking.
I called Wayne Thorburn to talk history. In a June interview, he told me he was undecided but wanted to get coffee w/ Talarico. He said:
From yesterday's Blast: Wayne Thorburn, the executive director of the Republican Party of Texas from 1977-1983, voted for James Talarico
Read more about his decision and the parallels he sees to the 1978 Texas governor's race:
thetexastribune.beehiiv.com/…
#TXSEN
FWIW — to name a couple @TexasTribune examples
texastribune.org/2026/09/22/…
texastribune.org/2026/09/09/…
Read my new piece on James Talarico’s flip-flops and the media environment giving him a pass. Excited to say that this is also my first contribution to @thedispatch! thedispatch.com/article/paxt…
Jasper Scherer retweeted
“If the terms were right, I’d have no problem” debating Talarico, Paxton says.
What are his terms?
“I don’t know what all the terms are but I do know I don’t want a CNN reporter.”
Fox News said it would host if Paxton agreed, after Talarico challenged him to a debate there.
I had jerky at Buc-ee’s with @KenPaxtonTX and talked about his emotions going into the midterms.
📍somewhere near Houston
Jasper Scherer retweeted
Scenes from the trail last weekend in the Rio Grande Valley with Bobby Pulido and Monica De La Cruz, where the politics of nostalgia and the debate over the region's future were on full display
+ excellent photos by Michael Gonzalez
texastribune.org/2026/10/16/…
Jasper Scherer retweeted
When Gina Hinojosa first launched her bid against Greg Abbott, her polling had her 9 points down — and she felt good about it.
Now, she's daring Democrats to wonder if she could actually topple this mainstay of the Texas GOP establishment.
@TexasTribune: texastribune.org/2026/10/16/…
Jasper Scherer retweeted
New via @birenbomb: Truth and Courage, a pro-Ted Cruz super PAC, is launching a seven-figure Spanish-language ad buy attacking James Talarico
@TexasTribune texastribune.org/2026/10/16/…
In @TexasMonthly interview, @DadePhelan mentions possibility of Dems flipping 8-10 Texas House seats: “I hear there’s more than that in the margin of error. That doesn’t mean they’re all going to lose. But these suburbs are nasty.” #txlege
The former Texas House speaker and Paxton antagonist on why he’s buying a blue wave: texasmonthly.com/news-politi…
Read @birenbomb on the epicenter of those nasty suburbs >
texastribune.org/2026/09/24/…
New @TxPolProject poll finds statewide GOP incumbents in jeopardy, w/ lots of statistical ties
#TXSEN
Talarico 50
Paxton 47
Governor
Hinojosa 49
Abbott 48
Lite guv
Goodwin (D) 49
Patrick (R) 46
Attorney general
Johnson (D) 48
Middleton (R) 47
texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blo… #txlege
2026 in a nutshell:
Trump 10 pts underwater in Texas, his worst net approval in @TxPolProject polling over both terms.
36% name “cost of living” or “the economy” as their top issue. Corruption (8%) is the only other above 5%. Electorate’s view of the economy is worst since ‘22:
New @TxPolProject poll finds statewide GOP incumbents in jeopardy, w/ lots of statistical ties
#TXSEN
Talarico 50
Paxton 47
Governor
Hinojosa 49
Abbott 48
Lite guv
Goodwin (D) 49
Patrick (R) 46
Attorney general
Johnson (D) 48
Middleton (R) 47
texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blo… #txlege
Jasper Scherer retweeted
New via @eklib: How Ken Paxton and allies fanned a conspiracy to convince voters James Talarico was mentally unfit.
Great breakdown ab the last few days featuring this incredible beginning to the report:
texastribune.org/2026/10/13/…
Jasper Scherer retweeted
In Dubai, Paxton and his girlfriend watched fireworks at a party with two fugitives who had failed to return to the U.S. to face federal healthcare fraud charges. One of them, Anosh Ahmed, had donated $190,000 to Paxton.
wsj.com/politics/policy/ken-… w/ @MarkMaremont @jdawsey1
Jasper Scherer retweeted
SCOOP: @nytimes reviewed time-stamped security camera images showing @jamestalarico was, in fact, at his home in Austin on Oct. 1-8.
Gift link ➡️ #TXSEN
nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/po…
Jasper Scherer retweeted
Mayes Middleton, running for Texas attorney general, wants to “put God back in government." bit.ly/4icAIgj
Rural voter watch: JD Vance is headed to Tyler, Texas, for a rally on Tuesday next week. Vance previously headlined a rally in Harlingen on Sept. 30
Jasper Scherer retweeted
Scoop: Ken Paxton privately complained John Cornyn “wants me to lose,” as their years-long feud boils over in a high-stakes Senate race
The latest leak from a Paxton fundraiser last month: cnn.com/2026/10/09/politics/… #TXSEN
Jasper Scherer retweeted
Scoop: In 2014, Ken Paxton sat for a deposition where federal lawyers quizzed him about his growing wealth and investment tactics.
The depo has never been made public. We got a copy. nytimes.com/2026/10/09/us/ke… @nytimes
