Kel Seliger/Screenshot via Senator Kel Seliger YouTube
Former State Sen. Kel Seliger isn’t backing down from his support for Democrat James Talarico’s U.S. Senate bid.
During an appearance on CNN, Seliger said he respects Republicans who are supporting Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign, but said the “stakes are too high” for him to support the Republican nominee.
“What we would like our children, my kids, grandchildren to see are examples of honesty, integrity and honesty working for the people of the state and the people of this country and their needs,” Seliger said. “And what we have are a lot of people get elected, and their goal is to support whatever the programs or the inclinations are of people like Donald Trump, and not the people in Texas who are just working for a living, who want to feed their families, want their kids to go to good schools.”
Seliger also further explained his support for Talarico, specifically, following his surprise endorsement of the Democratic lawmaker last week.
“James Talarico has always been honestly empathetic with the people who needed him in the Capitol and need him in Washington,” Seliger said.
The appearance on CNN follows Seliger opening for Talarico at a rally in Amarillo earlier this week. During that appearance, he threw shots at Trump while also claiming Republican attacks on Talarico are untrue.
Seliger, a former Amarillo mayor, served in the Texas Senate from 2004 to 2022. He left office and was replaced by Midland businessman Kevin Sparks.