Texas Democrat James Talarico targets Elon Musk, declaring 'Texas is not for sale' as he edges ahead of Paxton

'I have a legislative record; Ken Paxton has a criminal record,' James Talarico told hundreds of cheering students at the University of Texas at Austin on Friday. The 37-year-old state representative branded the Trump-backed attorney general the most corrupt politician in Texas history. Paxton faced a corruption-driven impeachment brought by members of his own party. A Texas Public Opinion Research poll put Talarico on 51 per cent to Paxton's 47.

Governor Greg Abbott warned: 'If we lose Texas, there's no chance ever.'

Democrats have not won a statewide race in Texas since 1994.