News 575K views since yesterday

Seliger and Steelman explain their support for Talarico

CNN interviews two former Republican lawmakers backing the Texas Democrat, then examines whether his Latino polling advantage signals a lasting shift.

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CNN Story of November 1, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of CNN's most watched videos since yesterday, with 574,983 views.

More prominent TX Republicans break with GOP for Talarico

Things we can learn from the video

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0:36Seliger says honesty and integrity outweigh party loyalty in his decision to support Talarico.
1:58Huffines urges Republicans to vote despite grievances, warning that early voting is not favoring their party.
4:31Steelman explains his Talarico endorsement and argues that electing Paxton would undermine promises to clean up Washington.
9:05CNN displays a poll giving Talarico a substantial lead among Latino likely voters.
12:46Gillespie cautions that lasting partisan shifts take years and attributes part of Talarico's strength to his opponent.

"It's not what we're voting for, it's what we're voting against," former Republican Texas state senator Kel Seliger tells CNN's Laura Coates, explaining his decision to support Democrat James Talarico over Ken Paxton.

CNN's compilation adds the accounts of Republican officeholders crossing party lines to its coverage of Texas voters weighing the Senate contest. Seliger says honesty and integrity matter more than party loyalty, arguing that the stakes are too high to compromise those standards.

The choice on Tuesday is between Talarico, a member of the Texas House, and Paxton, the state's attorney general. CNN's video has drawn about 575,000 views since yesterday.

Former Republican congressman Alan Steelman makes a similar case in an interview with Jake Tapper. He argues that sending Paxton to Washington would undermine the promise to clean up government, and criticizes what he describes as a Republican Party organized around one man.

The report also includes a contrasting appeal from Don Huffines: Republicans should turn out despite their grievances. In rally footage, he recalls having to hold his nose when voting and warns that early voting is not favoring his party.

A closing panel moves from endorsements to the electorate. CNN displays polling showing Talarico ahead of Paxton by 34 percentage points among Latino likely voters. Danny Arencibia, chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party's Latino Caucus, credits Talarico's faith-oriented message and frustration with unfulfilled promises.

Emory political scientist Andra Gillespie offers a narrower interpretation: partisan shifts take years to become established, and she argues that Paxton's particular weaknesses are helping Talarico. A strong showing against this opponent, in her reading, would not by itself establish a durable realignment.